West Palm Beach, Florida – Several friends of Romain Phelps, the man police in West Palm Beach said crashed into a van on the campus of Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts He was killed on Friday by an off-duty officer in the school theater, said Phelps was a man battling mental illness and posed no danger to anyone.
“He was a mentally upset individual, a fellow graduate of the Dreyfoos Theater. He, you know, just wanted help, sought help and it wasn’t given to him,” Skyler Meeney, who spent several hours with Phelps the day before the incident, told WPTV. Saturday.
West Palm Beach police spokesman Mike Jakeles said Phelps crashed a van through the school’s gates and then fled the property, acting violently and relentlessly and resisting attempts to stop him.
WATCH: Chopper 5 over shooting at Dreyfoos School
Chopper 5 flies over the large police presence at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts
Jacques said Phelps “brutally attacked” an off-duty officer, who fired a cartridge.
Minnie said Phelps spent several hours at his home on Thursday, behaving strangely and not wanting to leave.
“Over the course of the day, it has become a more extreme diversion,” Minnie said. “He couldn’t talk much until he got inside. He was sitting on the back of that couch right here, patting his leg, just breathing very hard.
Eventually, Minnie said, police and paramedics were called and Phelps was taken to hospital.
Minnie said he was surprised to see Phelps released hours later, telling him that the medication he received at the hospital did not delay him.
Phelps then apparently got into his van, going to Clematis Street for the night, and at one point sent a message to Meany.
“I would never hurt you, Skyler,” Meeney read aloud from the text he received. “You shaped my symbiotic state into a phoenix crystal. I am forever grateful. 4:52 in the morning
Minnie said that then Phelps dressed for his job as an electrician on Friday morning, but instead went to the only place he loves the most – his previous school.
John Brya / WPTV
The driver of a van that crashed through the gate on the campus of the Alexander W. Dreyfus School of the Arts and rushed into an auditorium was shot and killed by police on May 13, 2022 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“I think he was trying to get arrested because he felt in danger, so I think there was a part of him that didn’t want that to happen,” Meeney said. “He never wanted to hurt anyone. He was always a good friend of mine. He was a good friend to everyone who knew him and we all loved him.
The employee who opened fire was put on administrative leave, which is a policy of the department.
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