Body camera video shows negotiations before fatal shooting of Dante Kittrell

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- An internal review is underway in how the South Bend Police Department handled the deadly shooting of 51-year-old Dante Kittrell last month.

The suicidal man was going through a mental health crisis in the field outside Coquillard Elementary school, according to the body camera video.

During the 40-minute standoff, crisis negotiators on scene tried to de-escalate the situation.

Eventually, Kittrell was shot when he pointed a realistic looking Glock replica at officers.

Officers did not know the gun was not real.

South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski released the body camera video and vowed to continue an internal review of policies and procedures even after the st. Joseph County Prosecutor ruled the shooting justified.

"Everybody on SWAT, everybody with crisis hostage negotiations even our de-escalation trainers which you saw three of them were on scene. They will all take a look if they haven't' done it a hundred or a thousand times in their mind already. We will all separately and together, discuss any things that they think we could or should do differently," Ruszkowski said.

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