Miami Teen Taser: Israel Hernández-Llach Dies After Being Tasered by Police

A Miami teenager, Israel Hernández-Llach, died after being tasered by police officers after he attempted to spray his name on the side of a shuttered McDonald’s on the early morning of August 6.

The Colombian-born artist and skateboarder was known for spraying “Reefa” across the city’s abandoned buildings.

Police officers saw him doing it this time and quickly approached him. A chase ended with Llach being tasered and alter during.

A friend, Thiago Souza, said he saw some of what happened. He said that about five police officers chased Hernández and were shoving him against a wall, then he saw his friend on the ground.

“He was on the ground and the cops were making jokes,” Souza told the Miami Herald. 

Miami Beach Police Chief Ray Martinez said that police officers confronted Hernández-Llach at around 5 a.m. and the teen started running. The officers chased him and cornered him. When that happened, the teen ran toward the officers, ignoring commands to stop, said Martinez.

“The officers were forced to use the Taser to avoid a physical incident,’’ the chief said.

An ambulance transported the teen to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. 

 

The incident is being investigated and the city of Miami Beach “would like to extend their condolences to the family of Israel Hernandez.” said Martinez.

 

The full police report is below.

 

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida said in a statement on August 8 that the incident “is the latest in a long, tragic series of incidents in which the Miami Beach Police Department appears to have used excessive, disproportionate or lethal force.”

 

“ It’s unclear whether the use of a Taser was a justified response to a teen’s attempt to flee after being caught doing graffiti on an abandoned building, especially given that multiple officers were present and other techniques may have been sufficient in the situation,” said Howard Simon, executive director of the union, in a statement. “What is clear is that a family is grieving for a young artist because of actions taken by the Miami Beach Police Department.”

Israel Hernandez - Miami Beach Police Report by mikem2483