Former NFL player Ekom Udofia was killed after the police shot at him following a confrontation. The Phoenix Police Department had released a video of the incident.
"Please! Please! Do not make me shoot you!" A police officer could be heard shouting in the video.
In a released body-cam video, Ekom Udofia could be seen standing in front of the police. The Phoenix police officers were begging Udofia to drop his weapon to the ground. However, the former footballer did not obey the request.
According to the police, reports have reached them about a man who was jumping onto vehicles. They immediately responded and searched the 23rd Avenue and Indian School Road on November 30 at around 2 a.m.
The man was identified as the former football defensive tackle Ekom Udofia. The 33-year-old was reported by a caller, who said that Udofia appears to be under the influence of drugs when he saw him walking to the nearby mini-mart and pretending to act normal.
"He's trying to jump on the car, and tries to, to hit him, to hit the car with his body," the caller told the police.
It took only a few minutes when the authorities arrived on the scene. They saw Ekom Udofia walking on the road and armed with a gun. The encounter started with the police officers staying 35 feet away from Udofia.
The police officers had gone out of their vehicle and instructed Ekom Udofia to drop his gun. One officer warned that he would shoot Udofia if he does not throw his gun away.
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The next moment, the officers saw Ekom Udofia approaching, and when he was just a few inches away from them, it triggered the police to open fire. He fell to the ground while holding the gun, which later turned out to be a BB gun.
Before the fatal shooting, the officers had been hellbent on stopping Udofia at all cost without harming him. Some officers used stun bag and baton rounds to drive Udofia to kneel on the ground. But, Udofia remained unshaken.
Ekom Udofia was given six minutes to drop his gun before the officers fired their guns. When Udofia pointed his gun at the officers, two of them fired at Udofia.
Udofia fell to the ground, but he was still reaching for his gun. The officers were forced to use pepper balls and the canine to drive him away from his gun.
Ekom Udofia was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Udofia grew up in Scottsdale, where he first played football at Standford University. He started his NFL career as an undrafted player.
He played with the Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints. He was branded as a 'gentle' giant by his friends.
Ekom Udofia also played professional football in Canada.
Before the incident, Udofia had previous records with the police. The court records found out that Udofia's mental health issues triggered him to engage in criminal activity.
Ekom Udofia's death only showed that those with enduring mental health issues could meet an unexpected encounter that they never expected.
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