(Facebook)
A teenager was shot dead by police in St. Petersburg, Florida. His Facebook showed him to be a keen fisherman, not a cop killer. The kid has been named as 18-year-old Austin Goodner. He was shot dead on May 17 after he first wounded an officer.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. He Told Police ‘Kill Me! Get This Over With’
The backyard where Austin Goodner shot it out with 3 .@StPetePD officers last evening http://t.co/Ey6rgz0r7N
The St. Petersburg Tribune reports that Goodner told police “Kill me. Get this over with for me.” The incident happened at his parents home in St. Petersburg, Florida. Cops had gone to the home to question the teen over an incident that occurred at a nearby park. It was alleged that Goodner had confronted a group of people there, making allegations about their sexuality. Eventually, Goodner shot one of those people in the arm. When the officers arrived at his home, Goodner’s mother said her son wasn’t home. Before they left, Goodner attacked the cops, shooting one in the leg. The teenager fired more shots at them before he was taken down, being shot four times in the chest with a shotgun. He died later at a nearby hospital, reports Bay News 9. Three cops were involved in the incident.
2. He Has a History of Mental Illness
(Facebook)
Goodner has been arrested before and was taking medication, reports the St. Petersburg Tribune. His parents told officers that they don’t where their son got a gun. Goodner was once arrested when he confronted cops with a knife and a stun gun. Despite Goodner asking police to shoot him, a St. Petersburg police spokesman refused to call the incident a suicide by cops.
3. He Was a Full Time College Student
(Facebook)
On his Facebook page, Goodner posted almost exclusively pictures of himself with various fish he caught. His cover image on the site is of a group of manatees. He writes on his page that he’s a full time college student and was studying at St. Petersburg College having graduated from Northeast Community High School. One of Goodner’s friends, AJ Zelenak, paid tribute to his friend on Facebook writing “Rip brother. Prayers for your family. I’ll always remember and cherish the times we had together.”
4. The Goodners Have Another Younger Son
Austin Goodner’s mother posted this Meme to Facebook less than a month before the shooting.
According to online records, the home where the shooting took place, 4948 North Rosedale Place, is owned by Diana and Noah Goodner. The couple have another son, younger than Austin Goodner, Garrett, who has an education scholarship waiting for him from the Tampa Bay Rays. The Tampa Bay Times reported that the day after the shooting, Diana Goodner could be seen in front of her home taking out the trash and refusing to speak to reporters.
5. The Wounded Officer Will Make a Full Recovery
#sppd Officer Michael Cordiviola is recovering well today—gunshot wound to leg
The injured cop is Officer Michael Cordiviola, 40, a 10-year-veteran, according to St. Petersburg police. He’s expected to be released from a local hospital some time this week. One of the family’s neighbors, Ann Maglio, described the incident as “I just head bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam.” Her husband, William, added that he head the wounded officer saying “‘My leg!’ and ‘he shot me’ or ‘he got me.'”