Sometimes people need help for various mental illnesses and seek out the help of a therapist to guide them. This person has to be someone they trust, and they tell things they wouldn't tell anyone else. Unfortunately, a Georgia teen who was seeking help for mental illness was shot and killed by police in front of his family and therapist.

The family doesn't believe lethal force by police was necessary. The teen allegedly got into a disagreement with his therapist when he brought out a machete, prompting the therapist to call 911. The therapist was trying to reason with the teen, when police drew their guns in this fatal accident.

The teen was told to drop a machete that he had when police were called. His family says the teen complied with officers, dropping the weapon and walking toward them when he was shot in this fatal accident.

Police say the teen did not drop the machete as he was asked and because of the lethal nature of the weapon, they needed to use real guns instead of stun guns. The teen is believed to have been suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and ADHD, which is why the family sought help for him.

Should police have used deadly force? Couldn't the police just have stunned him? If it could be proved that the police didn't have to shoot the teen, or they weren't following proper procedures for the situation, they might be held responsible for the death of this teen.

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Gwinnett police: We had no other choice with combative teen," Alexis Stevens, Dec. 21, 2011