PAWTUCKET − The mother of a young man shot by police made a public appeal to see her son in the hospital, saying that police have blocked her from seeing the 28-year-old.
Regina Socree, the 65-year-old mother of Sebastian Yidana, made the request on Friday June 13, while standing in front of Pawtucket police headquarters, flanked by state Rep. Cherie Cruz.
“I’m here today because I have not been able to see my son,” said the Providence woman. “I have gone to the hospital several times and I have not been able to see my son.”
Socree said her son suffers from disorders that affect his behavior, including bipolar disorder.
“My son is a disabled individual who was shot because he had a toy gun,” she said.
Socree said she learned about her son’s gunshot injuries from a doctor who called her at 8 p.m. on Monday, June 9.
Then, the following morning, she spoke with two Pawtucket police detectives.
“We’re here because another young man was shot here by Pawtucket police,” said Cruz. “We need answers. We need accountability.”
What the Pawtucket police have said about the shooting
On June 12, Pawtucket police announced that Yidana, who was shot on June 8, was charged with felony assault with a device similar to a firearm and disorderly conduct.
Detective Sgt. Theodore Georgitsis said that Yidana had been shot in the shoulder.
Yidina also faces charges of felony assault with a device similar to a firearm and disorderly conduct for an incident on June 7, Georgitsis said.
Responding to the report of a man pointing a gun at himself and others on June 8, Officer Thomas Letourneau engaged Yidana and shot him, the police said.
The police later determined Yidana was carrying a plastic replica of a rifle, the police said.
A wounded man “who needs his mother”
Yidana’s mother said police are already familiar with who her son is, and they know that he is disabled.
“Now, he is in the hospital, needing hours of surgery,” Socree said. “He needs his mother, and I’m still not able to see him. That’s why I am here. I need to be with my son.”
The young man “needs to know that he has a mother out there that cares for him, that wants to be with him,” she said.
Socree also said that Yidana’s family needs to see the body camera video from the shooting.
The mother knows that Yidana is in the hospital but is being told she cannot see him, Cruz said, adding that Cruz wasn’t charged until Wednesday.
“Why were they blocking family?” she asked during the press conference.
After the brief press conference, reporters requested comment from Mayor Donald Grebien and Pawtucket police Chief Tina Goncalves.
The mayor was in a Zoom call, staff said. A police sergeant said that Goncalves was not in.
Later, Grebien issued a statement, calling the shooting “serious” and “unfortunate.”
“I recognize that this is a difficult time for the family of Sebastian Yidana and my thoughts are with them as he recovers,” Grebien said.
The preliminary findings of an investigation show Yidana was seen waving “what appeared to be a rifle at members of the public” and later at Letourneau on his arrival.
“We remain committed to transparency and working closely with our Police Department to ensure that our use of force policies and training reflect the highest standards of safety and responsibility,” Grebien said.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Mother of RI man shot by police says she’s been blocked from hospital