Family: Man Killed By CHP Not Armed, Shot 55 Times
TURLOCK, Calif. (AP) -- The family of a suicidal man who was killed by California Highway Patrol officers says he was shot 55 times even though he was unarmed.
Three CHP officers confronted 37-year-old Carrick Vigen at a rural gas station near Turlock on June 18 after his mother called 911 for help.
Karla Vigen told the Modesto Bee this week that her son has bipolar disorder and claimed he had a gun, so she told authorities that her son was armed.
Carrick Vigen also spoke to his brother just before the fatal shooting and said he wanted to "force a shootout" with police.
The Vigen family says investigators told them no gun was found at the scene.
The three CHP officers have been placed on leave. A CHP spokesman declined comment because of the ongoing investigation.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
