Mother of man shot by officer tried to wrestle the hedge trimmer away from him, was overpowered
Staff report
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kyle Swanner Kinsman, 21, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer after allegedly charging at two police officers multiple times with a hedge trimmer.
At about 6:01 p.m. on Saturday night, Kinsman reportedly called 911 to complain about a man threatening him with a chainsaw; he reportedly said the suspect was a neighbor and he saw the suspect screaming at a family while waving the chainsaw around. Kinsman also reportedly said he was the one with a chainsaw and that he was going to kill his neighbor.
Two Gainesville Police Department officers responded, and as they walked onto the property, Kinsman allegedly jumped out of the bushes and ambushed them, charging them with what appeared to be a chainsaw.
The officers drew their firearms and ordered Kinsman to drop the chainsaw, but he allegedly charged at the officers multiple times, holding the “chainsaw” over his head in a threatening manner.
Kinsman’s mother saw that the officers had drawn their guns, and she told Kinsman to drop the chainsaw; she moved between Kinsman and the officers in an attempt to get him to stop attacking the officers and wrestled with him in an attempt to take the chainsaw from him. Kinsman’s father was also reportedly looking for him during the incident because the parents had realized he was missing from their home.
Kinsman allegedly overpowered his mother and charged again at the officers with the “chainsaw” over his head; as he closed on the officers, one of them shot at him in the belief that the lives of the officers and members of the public were in danger.
Kinsman was reportedly shot in his leg and abdomen; the officers provided treatment until he was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
After Kinsman was shot, the “chainsaw” was identified as a cordless Ryobi Hedge Sweep Trimmer with a 24″ blade and a one-inch cut capacity.
Kinsman has no local criminal history. He is currently being held without bail.
Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
My condolences to the family, especially his mother, and to the police officers who responded.
🛑 The brand and Everything, It’s Amazing how GPD can be Very Detailed Oriented until you Inquire about Them, then they get Dumb 🛑
This has to be a white guy….. On like,,, fish tank meth or something….
Only white guys on meth do sh#$ like this….
My final thoughts are with Our Admirable GPD and ACSO Officers and Deputies who are fighting back with thier issued side arms. They’ve learned that if an arrest is made, then the States Attorney is gonna let them right back out.
So, Keep Shooting the Rabid Dogs,,,
“on the front side”.
Then, and only then, thier is no margin for error
“On the back side”
Why didn’t they taser him?
The taser is not meant for defense against weapons. If the taser fails, which they often do, serious bodily injury to the officer is imminent. While a hedge trimmer may sound tame, it still has the ability to cut deep, severe an artery, or cut off a finger or 2. Why take the chance? Suspect had the opportunity to change his mind. Mom even tried to stop him.
Exactly. Police are trained that people suffering from mental issues or are having drug induced episodes that the taser may fail and if someone is suffering from existed delirium the taser could stop the heart. I gave heard a lot of people chirping about law enforcement needing more training in mental health counseling but what people do not understand the amount if training officers actually get in mental health strategies, drug ODs, diversity, use of force, driving, domestic violence every year. It still is a requirement for officers to receive certain training every fours to maintain certification. I am not sure what people expect when they call law enforcement for help. Responding officers only given the information that is reported to 911 going into situations and once arriving everything become reactionary to what is unfolding before them. The sheep that rely on the sheepdogs to protect them from the wolves have no idea what law enforcement goes through everyday dealing with all walks of life.
No telling why Kinsman decided to act out, could be mental, drugs, or he may have been bored. Fact is he acted outed and required law enforcement to respond. Kinsman decided to charge at the officers with a chain saw/hedge trimmers and the officer were forced to react. FDLE is doing the investigation requested by GPD. What for the results. 99.9 percent of the times the officers are cleared by investigation, and grand jury. If they were in error the investigation will say so. Everyone knows how liberal Gainesville hates law enforcement and vilify them at every chance and will do so through out the investigation. That is 100 Percent accurate on that prediction. But I see the vilification has already started with a few. If you dont want the police to intervene than don’t call them. See how that works out for you.
Could have been a different headline – “Gainesville Chainsaw Massacre.”
Instead it’s – “Gainesville Hedge Trimmer Headcase Cut Down by Quick-Minded Police.”
Still wonder if other avenues of disarming the perp may have been available though. Not like it would be easy to impale someone with a 24″ Ryobi hedge trimmer and obviously the only thing it would have been capable of cutting through is a finger or two…
Just a comment from someone who wasn’t there.
I’ll wait…
So they should have possibly let him cut off their fingers. WOW. Just wow.
I cudaswore that earlier press releases said that the subject had died. Now we know that his injuries are mere scrapes. Anyway, some might insist that police should be better trained about power tool threats–anything from Ryobi is harmless consumer trash that (regardless of the instrument) can barely dent bread, whereas professional tools from Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt are bound to be greater threats.
lol. you do know that Ryobi and Milwaukee are both owned by Tektronic Industries right?
Police 1
Ryobi 0
Never bring a chain saw to a gun fight.
*hedge trimmer
Only one cop shot, and he shot twice, once in the middle-right pelvis, and the other in the thigh. He was mentally ill, that’s why he tried to attack. He was just doing yard work with his dad 10 minutes before this happened; that’s why he had the HEDGE TRIMMER (not a chainsaw, two very different things). What I find interesting is that cops are taught to taser first, not kill. Shooting should be a last resort.
How was it way off?
“Kinsman’s father was also reportedly looking for him during the incident because the parents had realized he was missing from their home.” Not saying he wasn’t helping with yardwork but dad would have known he was outside.
“One of them shot at him in the belief that the lives of the officers and members of the public were in danger.” Confirms your comment.
“After Kinsman was shot, the “chainsaw” was identified as a cordless Ryobi Hedge Sweep Trimmer with a 24″ blade and a one-inch cut capacity.” Again, noted by Chronicle staff.
The Alachua Chronicle is pretty good at releasing the information and not being “way off.” Their work is very much appreciated.
Well, as for your comment about the police, you are 1/2 right. Police are not taught to Taser first in a deadly force encounter. Shooting should be a last resort but could be the first resort when the person/object could present a deadly force threat.
Were you there?? Police shooting happen in micro seconds. Officers are forced to make that ultimate decision and do not have the luxury of arm chair quarterbacking that goes on way to much after such events by people who have no experience in self defense, mental health treatment, or real life events. This is why mayors, commissioners, and a lot of public officials sound stupid and inept when talking or discussing these issues. Only in fantasy land or Disneyland people can stop time, wave a magic wand, or insert this touch feely outcome. Welcome to the real world and life.
A nazgul got ahold of him and turned him onto hedge trimmers. Gasp.
does the hedge trimmer have a photo?
or are blacks only OK for this website?
His booking photo has not been posted to the jail site, presumably because he’s still in the hospital.
It’s a shame Mom is badmouthing the police. I’m sure he’s had issues for a while.