Teen who died in JPSO custody after outburst at business was developmentally disabled, manager says
Quote:
A teenager who died in Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office custody after authorities say he attacked his father at a Metairie business Sunday afternoon had a developmental disorder, according to those who knew him.
Authorities have not identified the 16-year-old boy who they said suffered an “apparent medical emergency” during his arrest for hitting and biting his father at Laser Tag of Metairie, 8855 Veterans Memorial Blvd. The teen's cause of death has not yet been determined.
Laser Tag's general manager, Ricky Dillard, said the boy, who was a longtime customer, had special needs. An unnamed family friend described the teen as “severely autistic,” according to WWL-TV.
The Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a fight inside the game room about 1:30 p.m., according to Capt. Jason Rivarde, a Sheriff's Office spokesman. The deputy determined the teen had attacked his 53-year-old father, who suffered several bite wounds.
The deputy detained the teen. But the boy bit the deputy’s leg during another struggle with his father in the parking lot.
The teenager was taken to a hospital by ambulance after he became unresponsive, Rivarde said. He was pronounced dead a short time later.
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, authorities said.
The boy was a frequent customer at Laser Tag of Metairie and loved coming to the facility, according to Dillard.
“He loved riding the bumper cars and playing in the bowling alley,” said Dillard, who did not name the teen.
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“Self Acceptance is a process not a performance”
“You are autistic enough. And you always have been”
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
21 Jan 2020, 5:47 am
