Renee Watts describes her younger brother – Stephon – as nerdy and God-fearing.
“He enjoyed talking to anyone who would listen about computer games, philosophy, and love having conversations about the Bible,” she told Illinois lawmakers at a recent hearing.
Stephon had Asperger’s syndrome, which is on the autism spectrum. When he was struggling, his medical providers and school counselors instructed his family to have the teen taken to a nearby hospital, transportation that required an ambulance and law enforcement, Watts said. On one occasion in 2012, Watts said her father called the police. Three officers entered the house to check on Stephon. He appeared to have a butter knife and ran for the door. The officers shot and killed him. He was 15. ..Federal and state governments, and mental health advocates want to use the number change as a catalyst to build an emergency response system for people who are suicidal, or experiencing a mental or behavioral crisis.