Don Amorosi, the father of a Minnetonka High School student shot and killed by police, says there were missed opportunities to save his son's life.

CHANHASSEN, Minn. - The father of a teenager shot and killed by police is asking why authorities didn’t do more to answer his family’s call for help just one day before Archer Amorosi died.

Don Amorosi is speaking out about gaps in mental health resources for teenagers, hoping to save other lives.

Archer Amorosi was shot and killed by Carver County Sheriff’s deputies in July after his mother called 911 saying her son was being “violent and destructive.”

Don Amorosi says his son was in the midst of a mental health crisis at the time.

Wondering what might have been

Don Amorosi is surrounded by memories of his son, a standout athlete at Minnetonka High School, a popular kid and a beloved brother.

It’s hard for him not to think about what might have been.

“Archer was just about my best friend,” he said in an interview with KARE 11. “He could be very compassionate and was a great defender of his family and sisters.”

But Archer also struggled with mental illness.

“Archer had anger issues. He did. And we went in and out of therapy and it was hard,” Amorosi said.

That anger exploded that July day in a confrontation at his mother’s house. When sheriff’s deputies responded to the 911 call they said Archer refused to drop a hatchet and a “handgun-style bb gun.”

Amorosi watched as the fatal shots were fired.

“I’ve replayed what happened that day 100 times each day,” he said. He doesn’t think authorities took his son’s mental illness into account.

Now this grieving father is trying to focus on what he believes were missed opportunities to save Archer’s life.

That’s because the family’s call to 911 that day wasn’t their first plea for help.

Mental health crisis line

The day before the shooting, Don Amorosi called the Carver County mental health crisis line saying Archer was off his medication and was punching and throwing things. He says he didn’t get the help he needed.

“Their response was this isn’t a crisis and, excuse my language, but I said then what the hell is a crisis?” he remembers.

So, Don called 911 to ask if police could help. The transcript shows he asked officers to “escort Archer to the hospital.” But he also worried, telling the dispatcher, “I fear that SWAT people are gonna go in and kick the door down and shoot him.”

“Somewhat prophetic, right?” Amorosi said when he saw the transcript.

Carver County Sheriff’s deputies came to Archer’s home that day, but decided that because Archer wasn’t threatening himself or others at the time they couldn’t take him to the hospital.

The next day, Archer’s anger continued. This time it was his mother who called 911, setting in motion the fatal encounter with officers.

“If Archer had been taken to the hospital that day or if a mobile crisis team had come to your home, do you think this could have all turned out differently?” KARE 11 asked.

“I am certain of it. I am certain of it,” Amorosi replied.

Now, he is left with his son’s collections – a family heirloom watch, holiday keepsakes, a lacrosse helmet delivered after Archer’s death never to be worn – and a new mission.

“The only thing that keeps me going is this little crusade that I’ve started,” Amorosi said.

It’s a crusade that has brought him before the Chanhassen City Council and to the state capitol to call for increased resources for teens in crisis. He wants cities and counties to invest in mental health training for law enforcement officers.

And he hopes to put a dent in the stigma surrounding a disease that doesn’t discriminate.

“I don’t want to see parents go through this. But I don’t want to see another beautiful little boy go through this - or girl,” Amorosi said.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension concluded their investigation into the shooting and forwarded it to the Carver County Attorney on Monday. As that office reviews the case to determine whether the police shooting was justified, the Minnesota Department of Human Services is also reviewing the crisis line’s response to the Amorosi family’s call for help.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 1-800-273-8255.