RUDOLPH, Ohio — Authorities are still investigating the death of George Taylor on Sunday, who was shot by a Wood County Sheriff's deputy after he allegedly pointed a rifle at deputies responding to a health and wellness check requested for him.
Taylor's family told WTOL 11 on Tuesday that he was a decorated veteran and they don't want his death to be the last thing people remember about him.
"How does a welfare check end in the death of my uncle? It makes no sense," Taylor's niece, Ashleigh Hotz, said.
That's the question Taylor's family members want answered. One of his nieces said they're still processing the loss.
"This came out of nowhere," said Brook Jones. "Just a few days prior we were having a good time, celebrating. Then we wake up and the first thing we hear is this happened."
On Sunday morning, law enforcement was called to Taylor's home in Rudolph. The family said a former counselor in Pennsylvania made the call.
Wood County sheriff's deputies responded knowing Taylor had expressed suicidal thoughts, but Taylor's sister, Sheila Long, said there was more the veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and Coast Guard was dealing with.
"He struggled with PTSD," Long said. "He also had traumatic brain injury, he had been shot in the hip, so he had many demons he was fighting."
Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn said deputies are trained to handle these types of situations.
"All my road deputies are Critical Incident Trained and trained in knowing how to deal with people with mental health issues, and depression or suicidal," he said. "Unfortunately, sometimes things don't go the way we want it to go. The last thing we want to do is have the person die. We're there to save lives. But the deputy had no other choice to do other than do what he did."
While the family doesn't blame the deputy who shot Taylor, they wish there was another option.
"I'm not saying he did anything wrong, it was probably by the book," Hotz said. "I feel where the system failed us is not having a protocol for someone who has a history with mental health who is a good person but just struggles with PTSD. There had to have been a different way."
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation is still investigating the shooting.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the branches of the U.S. military Taylor served in.
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The National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential support for anyone in distress and resources for anyone who may need help. By dialing 988, you can be connected with a local crisis center 24/7 for help. You can also chat online at 988lifeline.org.
The Lucas County Emotional Support Line is available at 419-442-0580 from 8 a.m. to midnight and offers peer support.
If you want to talk to someone and are not in immediate danger, Text "HOME" to 741741 to be connected to the Crisis Text Line and a trained counselor. There is no charge and the information will not show up on your phone bill. You can also chat online at www.crisistextline.org.
If you are a young member of the LGBTQ+ community and need help in any way, call the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386. Calls made to the Trevor Project are free and kept confidential.
Emergency Mental Health Support
The Lucas County CRISISCare line is available at 419-904-2273 to connect with a local, trained crisis counselor to discuss a mental health emergency 24/7.
The Wood County Crisis Line offers immediate assistance by calling 419-502-4673.
If a situation involves immediate danger to you or a loved one, NAMI Greater Toledo says calling 911 and talking with police may be necessary. It is important to tell 911 that it is a psychiatric emergency and ask for police officers trained in crisis intervention.