Paul Young
Role at the time: Memphis mayor, in a statement from his office to NPR
Explicitly stayed out
Statement summary
Mayor Young's office said he supports an independent review any time deadly force is used and believes "the facts should guide any conclusions".
“Mayor Young expects those reviews to be completed fully and transparently, and he believes the facts should guide any conclusions”
Open source (opens in a new tab)He was having a mental health crisis. Memphis task force agents came and shot him · NPRParagraphs beginning 'The night that her son', 'The TBI told NPR' and 'In a statement, the office for Memphis Mayor Paul Young'
Why we used this label
Relative to the agent's use of deadly force against Neal, the mayor's office offers no evaluation. It refers the question to independent review and says "the facts should guide any conclusions", which defers judgment rather than defending or condemning the shooting. It is not mixed because it states no conclusion on either side.