MIAMI — A Florida police officer shot and killed a homeless man at Gibson Park in front of a crowd of children on Thursday.

Antonio Torres, a 20-year veteran of the Miami Police Department, opened fire on Fritz Severe, 46, who was holding a stick. Dozens of children scrambled and ran, some being ushered inside a nearby building.

Miami Police Chief Rodolfo Llanes said police responded to a “violent disturbance” that had been reported when they encountered Severe, although TruthVoice could find no report that Severe had attacked anyone. Llanes confirmed that Torres shot Severe multiple times.

According to a report by the Miami Herald, witnesses on the scene said Severe was a homeless man who often spent time around the nearby post office. One witness, Nichelle Miller, gives an account of what happened.

“The man had a stick in his hand. They could have Tasered him. He was a homeless guy who’s there every morning,”

Miller said Severe didn’t even swing the stick at the Torres before he opened fire, shooting his weapon at least five times. Severe was killed almost instantly.

Stephanie Severance, another eyewitness, indicated Torres used little hesitation in shooting Severe. After Severe pointed the stick at the officer, “The next thing you know, [Officer Torres] shot him. I didn’t know whether to run, duck or hide.”

No children or other bystanders were struck by Officer Torres’s fire. Torres has not been charged for killing Severe.

A funeral service was held Saturday for a homeless man who was shot and killed by police officers on Los Angeles’ Skid Row more than two months ago.

Family members of Cameroonian national Charly Leundeu Keunang arrived from the East Coast to Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles’ West Adams District to remember the man many knew as “Africa.”

Keunang, 43, was killed March 1 by LAPD officers who were responding to a robbery report on Skid Row. During the confrontation, captured on surveillance cameras, police body cameras and witness video, Keunang struggled with one of the officers over the officer’s gun during a struggle, according to police.

“We have labored for the last few months to try to bring dignity and a real human story to the life of a man who tragically lost his life,” said Gregory Johns of West Angeles Church of God and Christ at the funeral.