A horrified mum said she feared her 13-year-old autistic son was dead after he was shot several times by police,despite being unarmed.
Schoolboy Linden Cameron is still in hospital with injuries to his intestines, bladder, shoulder and ankles after officers opened fire in Salt Lake City, Utah.
His mum, Golda Barton, had called for assistance because her son was suffering a "mental breakdown".
But she was shocked when she heard gunshots, and claimed one of the officers was overheard saying: "He's just a child, what are you doing?"
Furious Ms Barton told KUTV : "This is how to deal with people with mental health issues.
"So, you call them, and they're supposed to come out and be able to deescalate a situation using the most minimal force possible."
She said her son, who has Asperger's Syndrome, was in a high state of distress because she was returning to work for the first time in a year.
Ms Barton said she explained to police that Linden was suffering from separation anxiety, and advised them how to handle him.
"I said, he's unarmed, he doesn't have anything, he just gets mad and he starts yelling and screaming," she recalled.
"He's a kid he's trying to get attention, he doesn't know how to regulate."
She was told to remain outside while two officers went into her home, but panicked when she heard gunfire.
Speaking to reporters, Sgt Keith Horrocks of Salt Lake City police, said officers thought the schoolboy “had made threats to some folks with a weapon”.
Following the shooting, Salt Lake City mayor Erin Mendenhall described the incident as a "tragedy".
She said in a statement: "While the full details of this incident are yet to be released as an investigation takes place, I will say that I am thankful this young boy is alive and no one else was injured.
"No matter the circumstances, what happened on Friday night is a tragedy and I expect this investigation to be handled swiftly and transparently for the sake of everyone involved."
