BUFFALO, N.Y. — Family members are demanding answers after they say Buffalo police shot their father during a mental health crisis.

What You Need To Know

  • Family members are demanding answers after they say Buffalo police shot their father during a mental health crisis

  • People rallied Sunday up and down the streets of Buffalo 

  • City leaders say they recognize that police officers are not equipped with proper training to deal with a mental health situation

A rally along Genesee Street comes after Willie Henley, 60, was shot by police during a mental health call Saturday. Police were trying to de-escalate the situation when Henley started swinging a bat at officers. After one officer was hit, that's when shots were fired. Henley's family spoke out at the rally.

"They did not have the proper training for this situation. He is a mental health patient. They should have called some type of health clinic to come out there and assist them with something of this nature and they did not do that," said Iesha Henley, who is one of Henley's daughters.

Iesha Henley said her family is more upset that her fathers mental illness was not addressed immediately.

"So that's why we're hurt, because of how long he laid in a hospital bed with a bullet in him before he got any type of assistance," Henley said.

City leaders say they recognize that police officers are not equipped with proper training to deal with a mental health situation.

"They were hired for law enforcement public safety. They do have some training but it needs to increase," said Darius Pridgen, who serves as Common Council president for Ellicott District.

Pridgen said he has a resolution that will be filed Monday morning with a request that a mental health professional be apart of each district.  

"We need to get mental health professionals to scenes like this as fast as we do police officers and you can't have them on stand by," said.

This shooting has prompted calls for Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Buffalo Police commissioner Byron Lockwood to resign immediately. Brown spoke Sunday, saying there are new initiatives in the works regarding mental health and policing.

"This is another case that we've seen in our country involving people with mental health crisis needs and their involvement with police. These situations can be very dangerous and very difficult for all involved," Mayor Brown said.

Another one of Henley's daughters said that her family is confused and doesn't understand why the incident happened the way it did.

"He has walked these streets for years. I just don't know why it escalated so quickly," Monique Henley said.