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N. Miami: Autistic Man’s Family Says He’s Traumatized After Police Shot His Therapist

HeadlineJul 25, 2016

The family of a North Miami autistic man who police say was the target of a shooting last week says he has been traumatized by the incident. Arnaldo Rios Soto was being treated by a behavioral therapist, Charles Kinsey, after wandering away from a group home. When police arrived, Kinsey lay down on the ground with his hands in the air. He told police no one was armed and that Rios Soto was playing with a toy truck. An officer opened fire, shooting Kinsey in the leg. The police later said the officer meant to shoot Rios Soto. Since the shooting, Rios-Soto’s family said he is not sleeping or eating. His sister Miriam Soto spoke to local news.

Miriam Rios: “Own up to your mistakes and let people know that you’re trying to change. Because this is not the first time that it has happened. When I got home, I noticed my mom was crying, nervous. She had no answers, and she explains to me what she saw. Later on that they realized that it was a toy, he didn’t have a gun. Come on, now. It’s just too many lies.”

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