RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — A man who was shot by a Riviera Beach police officer on the campus of Suncoast Community High School earlier this week is in the intensive care unit at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, an attorney said Wednesday.
Delroy Thomas, 29, was shot twice by Officer Nodane Cherisma after he walked past a security gate during Monday morning's student drop-off period and was confronted by Cherisma in the parking lot, resulting in a struggle, according to a police report.
Several parents who witnessed the incident told police they saw Cherisma struggling as Thomas was attacking her.
The report stated that because of Thomas' "unprovoked attack," Cherisma was "forced to use deadly force to stop the immediate threat to herself and any possible threat to the students and staff on campus."
Thomas was scheduled to make his first appearance in court Wednesday on charges of resisting an officer with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, obstruction without violence, trespassing on school grounds, and disturbing the peace.
However, an attorney for Cherisma said Thomas is currently in the ICU and was therefore unable to attend the court hearing. His first appearance has been rescheduled for May 1.
Cherisma was also treated at the hospital on Monday and released the same day.