Video footage of the moment a SWAT team shot a disabled North Carolina man in December has surfaced, showing that the man complied with police commands.
In the video, officers can be heard asking 41-year-old Jason Harley Kloepfer to come outside with his hands up. Kloepfer and an unidentified woman appear to be confused but comply. Kloepfer opens the door to the camper trailer and takes a step forward with his hands up.
Officers outside the camper immediately begin firing. Kloepfer is hit and falls back into the trailer. He immediately starts screaming, “I’m shot!” several times. Police officers continue to demand that he come out with his hands up, and the woman tries to explain that he can’t come out because he’s been shot.
Officers enter the camper, and Kloepfer tells them he doesn’t have a gun. They check the trailer and give it the all-clear before taking the injured man outside. They let him know an ambulance is on the way.
The incident, which happened on December 13, began when dispatchers received a call for shots fired in the area. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department responded to the call and arrived on the scene at 11:17 p.m. They tried to make contact with the alleged shooter, and when they were unsuccessful, the SWAT team was called in.
According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, Kloepfer “engaged in a verbal altercation with officers and emerged from the camper trailer and confronted officers.” The incident described by the sheriff’s office directly conflicts with what is depicted in the video footage.
Thankfully, Kloepfer survived the shooting and was transported to Erlanger East Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was listed in stable condition.
He was charged with Communicating Threats and Resist, Obstruct, and Delay. The incident is still under investigation, and it is unclear at this time how the video will impact the outcome of the investigation.
