DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — A tragedy happened over Father’s Day weekend for one family from Decatur. Their 15-year-old son was shot and killed by an Athens Police officer at a family gathering.
However, the teen’s parents say there is so much more to the story.
“We want the community to know, that what happened Saturday, that wasn’t our sweet Gabriel,” said Adam McNutt, the father of 15-year-old Gabriel McNutt.
McNutt told News 19 that his son Gabriel suffered from several medical conditions and neurological damage, that led to his actions.
While McNutt is still processing everything, he said “Our son is no longer suffering.”
15-year-old Gabriel McNutt was the oldest child of his parents, Adam and Leslie McNutt.
His mother, Leslie, said what happened on Saturday was shocking. “I was just in a state of shock and disbelief that it got to where it did,” she said.
The family said Gabriel went through a lot in his short 15 years of life.
When he was just several months old, he was hospitalized for accidentally swallowing a button battery. His family later created a Facebook page to raise awareness of the danger of button batteries and to share his story. The family’s story was even featured on an Animal Planet segment.
Shortly after Gabriel turned four, he experienced an AVM, or Arteriovenous Malformation, and needed to undergo brain surgery. His family said it was a miracle that he survived that, and made a recovery.
Gabriel has also experienced seizures and continued neurological damage.
“If you look into that, that affects behavior and impulsiveness,” his mother, Leslie said. She said that can cause mental illness.
Since earlier this year, the McNutt’s had been working to get Gabriel the best mental health care.
“We did all that we could to encourage Gabriel to let him know we’re not going to give up on him” his dad, Adam told News 19.
The McNutt’s say they wish there were better mental health resources in the state.
“We went to four facilities, and it wasn’t until the last one that he actually got the help he needed,” Adam said.
Gabriel came home from his most recent treatment about five weeks ago. It was just in time to celebrate his 15th birthday and Mother’s Day with his family. His parents say he had shown great signs of improvement, and they’re glad that they had that time to make memories together as a family.
Saturday, the family gathered at Gabriel’s grandparent’s house in Athens to celebrate Father’s Day and a family birthday.
His mother recalls that he was enjoying himself all morning.
“Gabriel, you know, earlier that morning was just the Gabriel we’ve all known and loved,” she said. “Then something just flipped and there was just a glaze over his eyes.”
The family said he suddenly turned violent and acted unlike himself.
“He was just trying to attack us,” Adam said. “We were just like ‘Gabriel, wake up, come back to us, please stop’” he said. “He was just not there.”
That’s when Athens Police was called to the house to help de-escalate the situation.
However, Gabriel found a gun in a closet.
“I knew in that moment that it just wasn’t going to be good,” Adam told News 19.
According to Athens Police, Gabriel fired one shot, and the officers returned fire, striking Gabriel.
Adam shared how it felt to hold his son in his arms as they attempted to save him from his injury.
Gabriel died later that day.
While the family is still processing this tragic loss, they say they don’t hold the officers at fault for Gabriel’s death.
His father, Adam, said he hopes the police officers “don’t carry this”.
“We did everything we could, It’s no one’s fault,” he said. “It’s a tragedy.”
His parents say Gabriel was a firm believer, and they know that he is now no longer in pain.
“He’s at peace with Jesus,” his father said.
The family wanted to thank the community for all of the support. A memorial service and funeral are planned for later this week.
