Police kill trans man who gained viral fame last year with service dog

Kayden Clarke, a trans man from Arizona, was killed last week after police responded to a suicide attempt. Police were at his home Thursday morning after being alerted to a suicidal email he had sent out,according to the Associated Press. Kayden was living with Asperger’s syndrome.

The police tried to talk Kayden through an open door, as one of them pulled a “less-than-lethal” option. But things took a turn when Kayden came to the door with a large kitchen in hand, according to a Mesa police spokesman.

“She lunged, extending the knife towards the officers from a very close distance,” Detective Esteban Flores said. “The officers felt threatened at that point,” and so they shot him. Clarke was taken to a hospital but did not survive.

Both officers — who reportedly also had stun guns, according to the Associated Press — are on administrative leave.

At least one of the officers was trained in crisis intervention, which just so happens to include how to interact with individuals with cognitive disabilities and mental illness.

“At this time, we express our sympathies to Danielle’s family and friends,” he added, referring to Clarke by his legal name.

Last June, Kayden uploaded his now-viral video to a YouTube account under Danielle Jacobs, the name by which he appeared to identify at the time. In the video, we see Kayden having a melt down, complete with self harm, and his service dog comforting him through it.

“She was trying to share the struggles some people with Asperger’s go through and to try to take the stigma away,” said Heather Allen, founder of HALO Animal Rescue where Clarke had volunteered since age 13.

Allen called the police after receiving the email from Kayden.

Check out his viral video below …