The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Deputy who shot and injured unarmed Dontrell Stephens, told a jury Friday he thought he was going to die before pulling the trigger and paralyzing the now 22-year old.
"I'm dead. I'm done. I'm already behind the eight ball," Deputy Lin said he was thinking leading up to the shooting in 2013.
Lin said he thought Stephens was trying to get away when he pulled him over on his bicycle.
He said he told Stephens to put his hands up, but Stephens "looked right through me when I gave him the commands."
Lin said Stephens at first started to put his hands up, but then lowered one of his hands and reached for his waistband.
Lin said he thought Stephens was reaching for a gun.
And that is when Lin told the jury he drew his firearm and fired.
He said in that moment he thought of his child and his wife and that he didn't want to die.
He would soon learn that all Stephens had on him was a cell phone.
Stephens was paralyzed from the shooting and is now seeking monetary damages from the deputy and the Sheriff's Office.
Deputy Lin was recently promoted by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to sergeant.
Stephens told the jury earlier this week that he complied with the officer and kept his hands in the air.
Lin is expected to continue testifying on Monday morning. The case could go to the jury as early as Monday afternoon or Tuesday.