Turkish citizen Ali Bayhan killed during police intervention in Florida

Ali Bayhan, a 38-year-old Turkish citizen living in the city of Gainesville in the U.S. state of Florida, was shot and killed by police while an arrest warrant was being executed.

Authorities announced that Bayhan had used expressions in his social media posts that constituted a "terrorist threat" and that his family had reported concerns regarding his mental health. The Alachua County Sheriff's Office stated that an arrest warrant had been issued for Bayhan on the grounds that he had made threats against certain elected officials, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and a synagogue named "Temple Israel" in the city of Tallahassee.

Police teams reported that during the operation they conducted at the address yesterday afternoon, Bayhan exited the house with a firearm and did not respond to warnings. In the statement made by the Sheriff's Office, it was reported that after a K9 dog was deployed, Bayhan reached for the weapon at his waist, at which point he was shot by police.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

A bomb squad was called due to a wired device found at the scene, but no explosive material was found during the inspection. The state police have taken over the investigation into the incident, in which no police officers were injured. Bayhan's death has moved the "terrorist threat" investigation in Florida into a new phase. Authorities announced that all details regarding the incident are being examined and that both federal and local authorities are working in coordination.

BAYHAN'S FAMILY HAD REQUESTED A 'MANDATORY PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION'

Born in Turkey, Ali Bayhan was living as a tenant in the garage portion of a house in Gainesville. His family had requested a "mandatory psychiatric evaluation" from the court on the grounds that Bayhan was experiencing mental health issues. It was reported that the court accepted the request via an "ex parte" procedure without hearing the other party, considering the possibility that a delay could lead to serious harm.

News Source: İHA