ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Albuquerque is paying out more than $2 million in a settlement to a family whose lives were forever changed when an officer shot their son, leaving him with life-altering injuries. It all started with a 911 call when the parents pleaded for help as their son was going through a mental health crisis. But it quickly got out of control when officers arrived on scene. KRQE News 13 spoke to the family’s attorney, who said it changed the course of their lives and should’ve never escalated to a shooting.
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“One of Max’s favorite things is to be outdoors; he loves hiking, skiing, playing basketball, and because of his disabilities to his leg and arm, he can’t do any of those things anymore,” said Ryan Villa, the Mitnik attorney. Max Mitnik was 26 years old when he was shot in the head and the hip by an Albuquerque police officer five years ago.
In June 2020, Mitnik’s parents called 911 to get their son transported to the hospital, something he requested as he was suffering from a schizophrenic episode. “They called 911, hoping for an ambulance, medical personnel to help them; instead, police officers came,” said Villa. Mitnik locked himself in the bathroom and was cutting his neck with a knife. Ultimately, one of the Albuquerque Police Department officers, Jose Ruiz, had his mother open the door, and the officer opened fire…