Report: Georgia Tech Pride President Commits Suicide by Police

LGBT activist Scout Schultz refused to drop a knife and was shot to death by police, according to reports.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

September 17 2017 7:38 PM EST

September 17 2017 9:03 PM EST

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Georgia Tech students watched in horror as the school's Pride president was shot to death by police on the Atlanta campus after the student advanced on them with a knife.

Police had surrounded Scout Schultz after they (the pronoun Schultz used) was spotted on campus with a knife -- witnesses initially said Schultz had a gun and a knife. Schultz -- who identified as bisexual, nonbinary, and intersex -- told police, "Shoot me!," according to the Washington Post.

A video seen by Post reporters indicated police pleaded with Schultz to drop the knife and they shot after the 21-year-old advanced on one of the officers. Students in nearby dorm rooms witnessed the entire confrontation and shooting.

Schultz was taken to an area hospital and later died.

Schultz was an integral member of Georgia Tech's LGBT community, leading the group's Pride Alliance organization. The group released the following statement, which honored Schultz and urged those with suicidal thoughts to reach out for help:

If you are a trans or gender-nonconforming person considering suicide, Trans Lifeline can be reached at 877-565-8860. LGBT youth (ages 24 and younger) can reach the Trevor Project Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 can also be reached 24 hours a day by people of all ages and identities.