In a poignant testimony during a recent government meeting, a father recounted the tragic journey of his son, Will, whose life ended in a police shooting earlier this year. The father detailed Will's struggles with mental health, including diagnoses of impulsivity syndrome, Tourette's syndrome, and ADHD, which led to a series of legal troubles and incarceration over nearly a decade.

Will, who was born in Georgia in 1995, initially thrived in sports, excelling in track and field. However, he began to face challenges in his teenage years, leading to a pattern of self-medication and illegal activities. Despite multiple interactions with law enforcement, the father emphasized that Will was treated with respect and understanding by police in New Hampshire, where officers would often notify him of his son's issues rather than arrest him in handcuffs.

The father's narrative highlighted a critical turning point following the overdose death of Will's sister, which exacerbated his mental health struggles. After a series of ups and downs, including a stint in a sober living program and a job at Coca-Cola, Will's life took a downward spiral again after a probation issue led to his incarceration in Massachusetts.

In December 2023, after a series of distressing events, including a confrontation at a party and a welfare check by police, Will was shot and killed during a police encounter. The father expressed deep concern over the lack of understanding from law enforcement regarding Will's mental health history, suggesting that better communication and training could have potentially prevented the tragic outcome.

He called for a reevaluation of how police handle situations involving individuals with mental health issues, advocating for more comprehensive training and awareness to avoid similar tragedies in the future. The father concluded his testimony with a heartfelt plea to ensure that no other family endures the pain of losing a loved one under such circumstances, emphasizing the need for systemic change in how mental health crises are managed by law enforcement.