A GoFundMe page has been created for the family of a Redwood City man who died Monday after an alleged suicide attempt followed by a fatal struggle with responding police officers.
Kyle Hart, 33, cut his own throat and wrists with a butcher knife at his home on the 400 block of Lincoln Avenue before his wife called 911 at 8:47 a.m. Monday, Dec. 10, police said. Two officers arrived to find her in the front yard of the home covered in blood. The officers encountered Hart in the home’s side yard and tried to get him to drop the knife. Hart did not cooperate, a Taser was deployed, but it didn’t immobilize Hart, who then allegedly charged at the officers, knife in hand, before one of them shot Hart with his firearm, according to police.
Hart died at Stanford Hospital later that day.
Hart was a middle school English and social studies teacher in Palo Alto. He is survived by his wife, Kristin Hart, 32, and their son and newborn daughter, who were all in the home during the incident and were not injured, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe confirmed.
The GoFundMe page was created by family friends to help Kristin Hart, also a teacher, cover her expenses.
“With two little ones at home, their family has many daily, monthly and yearly expenses that quickly add up, and we want to make sure the Hart family can focus on their health and happiness rather than expenses in the foreseeable future,” the GoFundMe page states.
Jen Koepnick, a family friend who created the page, said she and the family have been moved by the community’s response.
“Some of my close teacher friends felt helpless, shocked and we’re all still processing what happened. We all wanted to do something so we felt that raising money for Kristin — and she has a lot of expenses — was a great way to help,” Koepnick said. “The response has been amazing. As surprised as I am, I’m not surprised. I’m very proud of our community and it goes to show how much Kristin and Kyle positively influenced their community.”
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According to the GoFundMe page, Kyle Hart was “passionate about teaching and looked after his students, often taking note of those who needed an extra boost of confidence to thrive both in and outside of the classroom.”
Wagstaffe’s office is investigating Kyle Hart’s death, a process expected to span eight to 10 weeks.
“We’re definitely dealing with mental health problems here,” Wagstaffe said. “It was known to the immediate family. This was a man in crisis.”
An autopsy was conducted on Tuesday, but it will still be some time before the results are made available to the public.
Wagstaffe said one of the central questions investigators seek to answer is whether Kyle Hart died from self-inflicted wounds or from the officer’s gunshot or gunshots, adding that both likely played a role in his death, but exactly what role may never be known.
The two responding officers are currently on paid administrative leave.
The 4th San Mateo County resident killed be Law Enforcement this year. RWCPD responding to a 911 call. At least he wasn't tortured to death (Murdered) by 5 SMC Sheriff Deputies like Chinedu Okobi was October 3, 2018 Millbrae Ca.
The man killed was a school teacher in Palo Alto. It is a complete failure when police officers are sent to help a person and end up killing the person - there has to be a better way!
Well Steve, do you have any ideas as to what would be a better way? According to the article, this "school teacher" appears to had been suffering from a mental health crisis (cut his own throat and wrist) According to the article, the tried officers tried to de-escalate the situation, but were placed in a position to use deadly force when Hart charged them armed with a "butcher knife." It's a tragedy, not only for the Hart family, but also the officers involved, who probably had to make a split second decision to fire their weapon. They'll have to live with that decision for the rest of their life.
Back off and let a man experiencing a mental health crisis armed with a butcher knife escape into a residential neighborhood, potentially putting the public at risk? The article suggests he was bend on committing suicide and his actions placed the officers in a position to achieve his goal.
Steve, so the man was a school teacher in Palo Alto. Is that supposed to count for bonus points or something when the police are dealing with a suicidal and out of control subject.??!! Was there no potential danger to his family if he turned around and in his distraught stage, stabbed his wife and child. Do you know that he wasn't capable of doing this? Really good people sometimes do really bad things when they have lost control of themselves and are incapable of regaining control. The taser failed to impede his progress forward or eliminate the threat he had made himself by arming himself as he did. Were you expecting the officers to verbally respond to him by trying to reach into his soul and regain control. "I must insist good man that you drop those sharp weapons, immediately regain your sanity and allow us to detain you so you can receive medical attention". I am sure they tried some version of that and did not receive the response needed to prevent the result that occurred. Sometimes nothing you do can prevent the final outcome, save for running away from the subject, and that's not going to happen, for obvious safety reasons. The question not answered is why did this seemly good guy completely lose control of himself and begin stabbing himself, and were there no signs of distress?
You criticize but when you need help, you will call the police. You have no idea what it's like to be a police officer, nor do you care. If it weren't for these brave men, there would be many more deaths in our nation. Go back to your little life in your world.
There are options. Remember a call was made to help a suicidal person - not someone threatening others. The man with a knife is a single person with wounds he has already inflicted on himself against two able bodied officers - likely in much better shape and wearing body armor which would deflect most of the danger of a knife. So yes rather than confront back away and try to deescalate the situation. Other options - carry shields or a net as weapons to subdue an irrational person. if deadly force is really required use a shotgun and sweep the legs of the person with less chance of killing him. If you condone what happened it will just continue to happen - a call for help results in death. We can do better!
Steve, since you are clearly not up to date on policing techniques nor the inherent danger in some of the suggestions you have made, perhaps I might suggest you contact your local police department and see if they have a Citizen's Police Academy and join in. It's time your concept of policing was updated and you can be introduced to reality, not TV/movie influenced version of what it is like to be in these type of situations. Cops only bring shields to riots and the netting idea you have does exist, but requires a shot gun to activate it, yet another item you want them to carry. And leg sweep, seriously?!!! To residents or readers, please contribute to the fund to help this family in their time of need.
I have a fundamental problem when a family member calls the police for help and they shoot/kill the person they are supposed to help - and no it is not really a brave act to shoot somebody. I have read stories like this too many times to just let it go. I agree many people are hurt but one family lost a person who needed help.
Hockeyczar - I am not sure "updated policing" have worked very well in the real world of facing suicidal people - too much forcing the action and knee jerk reactions to use force has resulted in too many bad outcomes - death to be specific. I am thinking of this case the case in Half Moon Bay several years ago and another involving a 4'8" 90 pound woman in San Jose. In each case the police forced a quick resolution and resorted to shooting/killing the people they came to help. I suggested several ideas but mostly I would like to the police to react more rationally to these situations - explore more ways to react without shooting.
It is far too quick to judge the officers' response based on a brief article in this newspaper. Let the professionals investigate and then let us thoroughly review their work product. This is a tragedy not only for the Hart family but the police officers involved.
You hit the nail on he head. Let' not rush to judgement. Plus, unlike our neighbor to the north, the SM Co DA's investigation will be completed in a reasonable 10 weeks.
Seasoned Observer, "Let the professionals investigate and then let us thoroughly review their work product." What makes you think the public will be able to see the work product. My example is the SamTrams $2.5 M Fraud inquiry/investigation has never been seen by the public after several requests.
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(15) comments
The 4th San Mateo County resident killed be Law Enforcement this year. RWCPD responding to a 911 call. At least he wasn't tortured to death (Murdered) by 5 SMC Sheriff Deputies like Chinedu Okobi was October 3, 2018 Millbrae Ca.
The man killed was a school teacher in Palo Alto. It is a complete failure when police officers are sent to help a person and end up killing the person - there has to be a better way!
Well Steve, do you have any ideas as to what would be a better way? According to the article, this "school teacher" appears to had been suffering from a mental health crisis (cut his own throat and wrist) According to the article, the tried officers tried to de-escalate the situation, but were placed in a position to use deadly force when Hart charged them armed with a "butcher knife." It's a tragedy, not only for the Hart family, but also the officers involved, who probably had to make a split second decision to fire their weapon. They'll have to live with that decision for the rest of their life.
Yes - they could back off. This happens too often.
“Back off” while being charged at by a deranged man with a butcher knife?
Back off and let a man experiencing a mental health crisis armed with a butcher knife escape into a residential neighborhood, potentially putting the public at risk? The article suggests he was bend on committing suicide and his actions placed the officers in a position to achieve his goal.
Steve, so the man was a school teacher in Palo Alto. Is that supposed to count for bonus points or something when the police are dealing with a suicidal and out of control subject.??!! Was there no potential danger to his family if he turned around and in his distraught stage, stabbed his wife and child. Do you know that he wasn't capable of doing this? Really good people sometimes do really bad things when they have lost control of themselves and are incapable of regaining control. The taser failed to impede his progress forward or eliminate the threat he had made himself by arming himself as he did. Were you expecting the officers to verbally respond to him by trying to reach into his soul and regain control. "I must insist good man that you drop those sharp weapons, immediately regain your sanity and allow us to detain you so you can receive medical attention". I am sure they tried some version of that and did not receive the response needed to prevent the result that occurred. Sometimes nothing you do can prevent the final outcome, save for running away from the subject, and that's not going to happen, for obvious safety reasons. The question not answered is why did this seemly good guy completely lose control of himself and begin stabbing himself, and were there no signs of distress?
You criticize but when you need help, you will call the police. You have no idea what it's like to be a police officer, nor do you care. If it weren't for these brave men, there would be many more deaths in our nation. Go back to your little life in your world.
There are options. Remember a call was made to help a suicidal person - not someone threatening others. The man with a knife is a single person with wounds he has already inflicted on himself against two able bodied officers - likely in much better shape and wearing body armor which would deflect most of the danger of a knife. So yes rather than confront back away and try to deescalate the situation. Other options - carry shields or a net as weapons to subdue an irrational person. if deadly force is really required use a shotgun and sweep the legs of the person with less chance of killing him. If you condone what happened it will just continue to happen - a call for help results in death. We can do better!
Steve, since you are clearly not up to date on policing techniques nor the inherent danger in some of the suggestions you have made, perhaps I might suggest you contact your local police department and see if they have a Citizen's Police Academy and join in. It's time your concept of policing was updated and you can be introduced to reality, not TV/movie influenced version of what it is like to be in these type of situations. Cops only bring shields to riots and the netting idea you have does exist, but requires a shot gun to activate it, yet another item you want them to carry. And leg sweep, seriously?!!! To residents or readers, please contribute to the fund to help this family in their time of need.
I have a fundamental problem when a family member calls the police for help and they shoot/kill the person they are supposed to help - and no it is not really a brave act to shoot somebody. I have read stories like this too many times to just let it go. I agree many people are hurt but one family lost a person who needed help.
Hockeyczar - I am not sure "updated policing" have worked very well in the real world of facing suicidal people - too much forcing the action and knee jerk reactions to use force has resulted in too many bad outcomes - death to be specific. I am thinking of this case the case in Half Moon Bay several years ago and another involving a 4'8" 90 pound woman in San Jose. In each case the police forced a quick resolution and resorted to shooting/killing the people they came to help. I suggested several ideas but mostly I would like to the police to react more rationally to these situations - explore more ways to react without shooting.
It is far too quick to judge the officers' response based on a brief article in this newspaper. Let the professionals investigate and then let us thoroughly review their work product. This is a tragedy not only for the Hart family but the police officers involved.
You hit the nail on he head. Let' not rush to judgement. Plus, unlike our neighbor to the north, the SM Co DA's investigation will be completed in a reasonable 10 weeks.
Seasoned Observer, "Let the professionals investigate and then let us thoroughly review their work product." What makes you think the public will be able to see the work product. My example is the SamTrams $2.5 M Fraud inquiry/investigation has never been seen by the public after several requests.
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