{{short description|Fatal shooting of 21-year-old student}} {{Use American English|date=August 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}} {{infobox news event | title = Killing of Scout Schultz | image = Fulton County Georgia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Atlanta Highlighted.svg | date = {{start date|2017|9|16}} | place = 532 8th Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | participants = 4 Georgia Tech Police Department officers, including Tyler Beck | reported death(s) = Scout Schultz }} On September 16, 2017, '''Scout Schultz''', a 21-year-old student of the Georgia Institute of Technology, was shot once and killed by Tyler Beck, an officer of the Georgia Tech Police Department. Schultz had summoned police to the scene by making a false claim that someone was standing outside their dorm with a knife and a gun. They then stood outside the dorm carrying a multitool. When the police arrived, Schultz walked towards the police, asking them to shoot. The multitool contained a screwdriver and a short blade that was not out.
The incident was followed by protests and civil unrest, which led to multiple arrests. Schultz's parents filed a wrongful death suit. The shooting was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. In March 2020, it was announced that Tyler Beck would not face charges.
In 2018, Scout's shooting led to the creation of a $1,000,000 fund to improve mental health, from which came the Intercollegiate Mental Health Conference, the first student-run national conference on college mental health policy at Georgia Tech. This led to the creation of a new LGBTQ+ center and other resources.
==Background== Scout Schultz was born in Rockville, Maryland in 1995.<ref name="atavist2018">{{Cite news| issue = 82| last = Lieberman| first = Hallie| title = The Trigger Effect| work = The Atavist Magazine| access-date = 2018-08-31| date = August 29, 2018| url = https://magazine.atavist.com/the-trigger-effect-scout-schultz-georgia-tech| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180901113216/https://magazine.atavist.com/the-trigger-effect-scout-schultz-georgia-tech| archive-date = September 1, 2018| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="bbcnewsgeorgiastudentscout">{{cite news|title=Georgia student Scout Schultz shot dead by Atlanta police|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41302571|access-date=September 18, 2017|work=BBC News|date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918024534/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41302571|archive-date=September 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="chicagotribunewehavetoseekjustice">{{cite news|last1=Selk|first1=Avi|last2=Shapiro|first2=T. Rees|title='We have to seek justice for Scout': Parents of student killed by police at Georgia Tech speak out|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-scout-schultz-georgia-tech-police-shooting-20170918-story.html|access-date=September 18, 2017|work=The Chicago Tribune|date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918211132/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-scout-schultz-georgia-tech-police-shooting-20170918-story.html|archive-date=September 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and was born with a possible intersex condition.<ref name="atavist2018" /> The Schultz family later moved to Lilburn, Georgia.<ref name="bbcnewsgeorgiastudentscout"/><ref name="theindependentlgbtactivist">{{cite news|last1=Selk|first1=Avi|title=Scout Schultz: LGBT activist shot dead by police at Georgia university|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/scout-schultz-lgbt-activist-shot-dead-georgia-tech-campus-police-standoff-pride-alliance-a7952311.html|access-date=September 18, 2017|work=The Independent|date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918083446/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/scout-schultz-lgbt-activist-shot-dead-georgia-tech-campus-police-standoff-pride-alliance-a7952311.html|archive-date=September 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
Scout was a fourth year computer engineering major at Georgia Institute of Technology,<ref name="bbcnewsgeorgiastudentscout" /><ref name="nytimesgeorgiatechstudentwithknife">{{cite news|title=Georgia Tech Student With Knife Killed by Campus Police|url=https://apnews.com/0b80b1f63a5649789362d8fb3852c22d/Lawyer:-Georgia-Tech-police-overreacted-by-killing-student|access-date=March 17, 2020|work=Associated Press|date=September 18, 2017}}</ref> and expected to graduate a semester early according to their father.<ref name="chicagotribunewehavetoseekjustice" /> Scout claimed to be bisexual, nonbinary, and intersex and used singular ''they'' pronouns.<ref name="theguardiangeorgiatechpoliceshoot">{{cite news|title=Georgia Tech police shoot LGBTQ student dead|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/18/georgia-tech-police-shoot-lgbtq-student-dead|access-date=September 18, 2017|work=The Guardian|date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918083302/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/18/georgia-tech-police-shoot-lgbtq-student-dead|archive-date=September 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Schultz was the president of Pride Alliance on campus.<ref name="nytimesgeorgiatechstudentwithknife" /><ref name="theindependentlgbtactivist" />
Schultz, who suffered from clinical depression, had spent time in counseling after attempting suicide by hanging in 2015.<ref name="ajceclusivemomofgeorgia">{{cite news|last1=Boone|first1=Christian|title=AJC Exclusive: Mom of Georgia Tech student shot by police speaks out|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/local/ajc-exclusive-mom-georgia-tech-student-shot-police-speaks-out/o2CRkPrqeUp0eV78knyI7M/|access-date=September 18, 2017|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917215828/http://www.ajc.com/news/local/ajc-exclusive-mom-georgia-tech-student-shot-police-speaks-out/o2CRkPrqeUp0eV78knyI7M/|archive-date=September 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Shooting== Schultz, a 21-year-old student at the Georgia Institute of Technology, called 9-1-1 on September 16, 2017, around 11:17 p.m. claiming there was a suspicious person on campus with a knife and possibly a gun. Schultz gave a description matching their own appearance, saying that the person had long blond hair, a white t-shirt, and blue jeans, and said that the person might be intoxicated.<ref name="gbiinvestigatesofficerinvolved"/><ref name="chicago911">{{cite news|last1=Brumback|first1=Kate|title=911 call about suspicious man was made by Georgia Tech student killed by police, officials say|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-scout-schultz-georgia-tech-police-shooting-20170918-story.html|access-date=September 19, 2017|work=Chicago Tribune|date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919011752/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-scout-schultz-georgia-tech-police-shooting-20170918-story.html|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
Four police officers approached Schultz outside a dormitory on campus.<ref name="gbiinvestigatesofficerinvolved">{{cite web|title=GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting in Atlanta, GA|url=https://gbi.georgia.gov/press-releases/2017-09-17/gbi-investigates-officer-involved-shooting-atlanta-ga|website=Georgia Bureau of Investigation|date=September 18, 2017 |access-date=September 18, 2017|quote=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918011807/https://gbi.georgia.gov/press-releases/2017-09-17/gbi-investigates-officer-involved-shooting-atlanta-ga|archive-date=September 18, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ajcboonebreakinglistentothe"/> Schulz had a multitool, which included a small knife, but no gun.<ref name="chicago911"/> According to the ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', the multitool's blade was not extended.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boone |first=Christian |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/new-video-georgia-tech-shooting-surfaces/2KwTgcoJYzzp9bShg69EWI/ |title=New video of Georgia Tech shooting surfaces |access-date=2020-03-17 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914073359/https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/new-video-georgia-tech-shooting-surfaces/2KwTgcoJYzzp9bShg69EWI/ |archive-date=September 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, given the earlier call and the lack of light, the police suspected that it was a gun. Schultz refused to drop the multitool and walked towards the police, with arms hanging down, while shouting "shoot me!"<ref name="bbcnewsgeorgiastudentscout"/><ref name="NYTimes" /> Schultz was then shot and pronounced dead shortly after at the Grady Memorial Hospital.<ref name="gbiinvestigatesofficerinvolved"/> The incident was captured on a cell-phone video.<ref name="NYTimes">{{Cite news |last=Stack |first=Liam |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/us/georgia-tech-killing-student.html |title=Georgia Tech Student Leader Is Shot Dead by Campus Police |date=2017-09-18 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2020-03-17 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821161610/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/us/georgia-tech-killing-student.html |archive-date=August 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Three suicide notes were found in Schultz's dorm room.<ref name="chicago911"/>
The police officer who shot them was identified as Tyler Beck.<ref name="ajcboonebreakinglistentothe">{{cite news|last1=Boone|first1=Christian|title=BREAKING: Listen to the 911 call in Georgia Tech shooting|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/breaking-listen-the-911-call-georgia-tech-shooting/QyIg3rG8XRFfnijWqz9bwN/?ecmp=socialflow_ajc|access-date=September 19, 2017|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920044539/http://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/breaking-listen-the-911-call-georgia-tech-shooting/QyIg3rG8XRFfnijWqz9bwN/?ecmp=socialflow_ajc|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', "Beck was certified by the Georgia Peace Officer and Standards Training Council (POST) but had not undergone Crisis Intervention Training, which trains police on how to handle mentally ill suspects."<ref name="ajcboonebreakinglistentothe"/> Shortly after the shooting, Beck was put on paid leave.<ref name="insidehigheredcampusroiledafter">{{cite news|last1=Bauer-Wolf|first1=Jeremy|title=Campus Roiled After Fatal Shooting|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/09/21/georgia-tech-erupts-police-response-questioned-after-fatal-shooting|access-date=September 21, 2017|work=Inside Higher Ed|date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921113611/https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/09/21/georgia-tech-erupts-police-response-questioned-after-fatal-shooting|archive-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Aftermath== Schultz's family attorney, Chris Stewart, said that the police overreacted.<ref name="nytimesgeorgiatechstudentwithknife"/> Stewart said the idea that the death was a "suicide by cop" did not justify the shooting.<ref name="APNews" /> He also said, "The area was secured. There was no one around at risk."<ref name="theguardiangeorgiatechpoliceshoot"/> Schultz's mother, Lynne Schultz, suggested that the police should have used pepper spray or Tasers instead of gunning them down.<ref name="ajceclusivemomofgeorgia"/> (According to a spokesman, Georgia Tech police are equipped with pepper spray, but not tasers.)<ref name="chicago911"/> Scout's father, William Schultz, said at a news conference, "Why did you have to shoot? That's the only question that matters right now. Why did you kill my son?"<ref name="reutersscoutschultzwhydid">{{cite news |last=McKay |first=Rich |date=September 18, 2017 |title=Family seeks answers after Georgia Tech student killed by police |url=https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1BT1XO |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918225130/http://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN1BT1XO |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |access-date=September 19, 2017 |work=Reuters}}</ref>
G. P. "Bud" Peterson, the president of Georgia Tech, said the shooting was a "heart-wrenchingly painful time" for the university.<ref name="newsweekscoutschultzwhydid">{{cite news|last1=Gaffey|first1=Conor|title=SCOUT SCHULTZ: WHY DID GEORGIA POLICE SHOOT DEAD GEORGIA TECH LGBT STUDENT LEADER?|url=http://www.newsweek.com/scout-schultz-georgia-tech-police-shooting-666641|access-date=September 18, 2017|work=Newsweek|date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919040137/http://www.newsweek.com/scout-schultz-georgia-tech-police-shooting-666641|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite Schultz not finishing senior year, Georgia Tech awarded Schultz a diploma.<ref name="wsbtv Sept 2018"/>
The shooting was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.<ref name="ajceclusivemomofgeorgia"/> In September 2018, with the investigation still on-going, the parents announced that they had grown frustrated with the lack of criminal charges.<ref name="wsbtv Sept 2018">Pozen, Lauren (September 19, 2018). [https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/family-of-georgia-tech-student-killed-by-campus-police-officer-want-officer-held-accountable/837598437 "Family of tech student killed by campus police to sue university"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401185336/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/family-of-georgia-tech-student-killed-by-campus-police-officer-want-officer-held-accountable/837598437|date=April 1, 2019}}, ''Wsbtv.com.''</ref> Schultz's parents filed a wrongful death suit naming the university, Tyler Beck, and the Georgia Board of Regents in September 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gawronski |first=Quinn |date=September 12, 2019 |title=Parents of Georgia Tech student shot dead by campus police file suit |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/parents-georgia-tech-student-shot-dead-campus-police-file-suit-n1053331 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913030058/https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/parents-georgia-tech-student-shot-dead-campus-police-file-suit-n1053331 |archive-date=September 13, 2019 |access-date=September 13, 2019 |work=NBC News}}</ref>
In March 2020, the county's district attorney announced that Beck would not face charges, saying that, according to use-of-force experts, the shooting was justified.<ref name="APNews">{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/911404c041d0a3e9a732dc87affc8035 |title=Georgia Tech officer who killed student won't face charges |date=2020-03-14 |website=AP NEWS |access-date=2020-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314195344/https://apnews.com/911404c041d0a3e9a732dc87affc8035 |archive-date=March 14, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In December 2021, Georgia Tech announced a settlement with the family of Schultz for $1 million.<ref name="lgbtq-6dec2021">{{cite web |last1=Sprayregen |first1=Molly |title=University has to pay $1 million to family after campus cop shot non-binary student to death |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/12/university-pay-1-million-family-campus-cop-shot-non-binary-student-death/ |website=LGBTQ Nation |access-date=December 16, 2021 |date=December 6, 2021}}</ref>
== Vigil and protest == A peaceful vigil for Schultz was held on campus on September 18, 2017.<ref name="cnnviolenceflaresafterquietvigil">{{cite news|last1=Simon|first1=Darran|title=Violence flares after quiet vigil for Georgia Tech student shot by police|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/18/us/georgia-tech-protest-slain-student/index.html|access-date=September 21, 2017|work=CNN|date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920193304/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/18/us/georgia-tech-protest-slain-student/index.html|archive-date=September 20, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
Twenty minutes later, about 50 protesters marched through campus<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41323175|title=Protests after police shoot LGBT student|date=2017-09-19|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-10-11|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122081157/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41323175|archive-date=November 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> while carrying a banner which read "Protect LGBTQ" and chanting "Justice Now".<ref name="cnnviolenceflaresafterquietvigil"/> The protest turned violent and a police car was set on fire.<ref name="cnnprotestseruptongeorgiatech">{{cite news|last1=Grinberg|first1=Emanuella|title=Protests erupt on Georgia Tech campus after student is killed|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/18/us/georgia-tech-student-killed/index.html|access-date=September 19, 2017|work=CNN|date=September 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918211020/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/18/us/georgia-tech-student-killed/index.html|archive-date=September 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Three people were arrested, one of them a Georgia Tech student.<ref name="insidehigheredcampusroiledafter"/> They were charged with "inciting a riot and battery of an officer."<ref name="cnnviolenceflaresafterquietvigil"/> In the following weeks three more people were arrested for "misdemeanor obstruction of law enforcement."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wabe.org/georgia-tech-continues-misdemeanor-arrests-weeks-fiery-protest/|title=Georgia Tech Continues Misdemeanor Arrests Weeks After Fiery Protest {{!}} 90.1 FM WABE|date=2017-10-05|work=90.1 FM WABE|access-date=2017-10-11|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012045425/https://www.wabe.org/georgia-tech-continues-misdemeanor-arrests-weeks-fiery-protest/|archive-date=October 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Schultz's parents appealed for calm.<ref>{{cite news|title=BREAKING: Vigil at Georgia Tech turns violent in aftermath of police shooting|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-vigil-georgia-tech-turns-violent-aftermath-police-shooting/CVfX0KeBUlTPzYLCf3KnwO/|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|publisher=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919021828/http://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-vigil-georgia-tech-turns-violent-aftermath-police-shooting/CVfX0KeBUlTPzYLCf3KnwO/|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live|last1=Helm |first1=Nelson }}</ref>
On September 22, a teach-in and protest occurred at Georgia Tech, which led to the Student Center building being closed early at 3 p.m.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wabe.org/campus-cheers-ga-tech-police-some-struggle-grieve/|title=As Campus Cheers On Ga. Tech Police, Some Struggle To Grieve {{!}} 90.1 FM WABE|date=2017-09-25|work=90.1 FM WABE|access-date=2017-10-11|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012045419/https://www.wabe.org/campus-cheers-ga-tech-police-some-struggle-grieve/|archive-date=October 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Legacy and impact == In 2018, in response to Schultz's death, queer student leaders established the Mental Health Joint Allocations Committee, a $1,000,000 fund, stating it exists to improve campus mental health. These funds have been allocated towards a new LGBTQ+ center, telemental health services, therapeutic biotechnologies, and health systems research.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mental Health Joint Allocation Committee – Student Government Association |url=https://www.sga.gatech.edu/jac/ |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=www.sga.gatech.edu}}</ref>
In February 2019, the committee contributed funds to the Intercollegiate Mental Health Conference, the first national student-run research initiative to identify best practices and policies for college mental health. From this data, $300,000 in grant funding was established to improve the mental health of vulnerable populations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Intercollegiate Mental Health Conference |url=https://mentalhealthconference.gatech.edu/ |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=mentalhealthconference.gatech.edu}}</ref>
==See also== *List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, September 2017 *Suicide by cop
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Killings by law enforcement in the United States in the 2010s}} {{Atlanta history}} {{Georgia Tech}} {{LGBT in Georgia (U.S. state)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schultz, Scout}} Category:2017 in Atlanta Category:2017 controversies in the United States Category:2017 in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:2017 in LGBTQ history Category:Suicides by firearm in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Deaths by person in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Filmed killings by law enforcement Category:Georgia Tech Category:History of Atlanta Category:LGBTQ in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:People shot dead by law enforcement officers in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:September 2017 in the United States Category:Transgender-related suicides Category:Suicide by cop