A 32-year-old man, Robert Tyler White, died on June 6, 2022, a Thursday morning in Gadsden, Alabama, after being shot by police outside of Walnut Park Elementary School. Originally from Bunnlevel, North Carolina, White had been living in the Gadsden area. On the day of the incident, a summer literacy camp was being held at the school with approximately 34 children inside.
Concerned citizens reported a suspicious man, later identified as White, who was aggressively attempting to open
several doors to the elementary school and trying to forcibly enter a marked Rainbow City patrol vehicle parked on the campus. The school's principal, alerted to the situation, ensured all exterior doors remained locked and contacted the school resource officer.
The school resource officer from the Rainbow City Police Department confronted White, leading to a physical altercation. During the struggle, White reportedly attempted to take the officer's firearm. Additional officers from the Gadsden Police Department arrived to provide assistance. In the ensuing confrontation, White was shot and killed. The school resource officer sustained minor injuries during the altercation.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's State Bureau of Investigation is leading the inquiry into the officer-involved shooting. Following the incident, White's brother informed the media that his brother had serious mental health issues and had attended Walnut Park Elementary as a child. He also mentioned that his brother could be a 'hot head.' The investigation's findings will be turned over to the Etowah County District Attorney's Office upon completion.
