The Latest: Utah police shooting victim in wheelchair

SALT LAKE CITY – The Latest on a Utah police shooting earlier this year that became another flashpoint in the nation’s discussion about the use of force by police against minorities. (all times local):

1:35 p.m.

A teenage Somali refugee who was critically wounded by police during a fight outside a homeless shelter earlier this year arrived to his first court appearance Wednesday on robbery and drug charges in a wheelchair.

The 18-year-old Abdullahi “Abdi” Mohamed declined comment after a short hearing in juvenile court where an evidentiary hearing was set for Oct. 3.

Wearing a black T-shirt, he smiled as he left court and politely said, “no comment,” as he pushed himself in the wheelchair. His mother and stepfather also declined comment.

One of his attorneys, Sam Pappas, said he doesn’t know the extent or severity of Mohamed’s injuries and whether he’ll be able to walk again. Mohamed was shot four times on Feb. 27, sending him into a coma and nearly killing him.

Mohamed has not yet entered a plea.

The hearing came a night after a small band of people protested against police brutality and called for the resignation of a Utah prosecutor during a demonstration in Salt Lake City after the two officers who shot Mohamed were cleared of any wrongdoing.

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3:17 a.m.

A small band of people protested against police brutality and called for the resignation of a Utah prosecutor, during a demonstration in Salt Lake City after two officers were cleared in the shooting of a teenager.

About 25 members of Utah Against Police Brutality and other activist groups stood on the downtown city hall steps holding signs that said “Disarm the Police” and renewing a call for officials to release police body camera footage from the Feb. 27 shooting.

The Salt Lake City shooting occurred as police said they stumbled upon a fight between the teenager, a Somali refugee, and a man over $1.10 from a failed drug buy near the city’s crowded homeless shelter.

The two officers shot then 17-year-old Abdullahi “Abdi” Mohamed four times, sending him into a coma that nearly killed him. He survived but his health condition Tuesday was not known.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill cleared the two officers of any wrongdoing Monday, saying they acted appropriately because they believed Mohamed was about to seriously injure or kill the man with a metal broom stick.

Gill also announced he was charging Mohamed, who is now 18, with aggravated robbery and possessing drugs with intent to distribute.