Police Fatally Shoot Black Teen – Here Comes More Protests

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An Illinois city is reeling after police fatally shot a Black teenager who was the passenger in a vehicle that police said reversed toward an officer. The shooting, which occurred late Tuesday night, left the driver of the vehicle hospitalized and sparked protests in the city of Waukegan.

The local police department on Thursday said an officer was “investigating an occupied vehicle” when the suspects fled the scene. Later, a second officer spotted and approached the vehicle, which they said began moving in reverse toward him. The officer, who feared for his safety, fired his semi-automatic pistol, the department said. Officials did not release the name of the officer who opened fire but said he was a Hispanic man who has been with the force for five years. The officer has been placed on administrative leave, and Illinois State Police are investigating.

The passenger, 19-year-old Marcellis Stinnette, was taken to a nearby hospital where he died of his injuries, police said. A preliminary autopsy determined that Stinnette died from gunshot wounds. Police said no weapons were found inside the vehicle.” We have been in close contact with Mr. Stinnette’s family and our deepest condolences go out to them during this difficult time. This is truly a tragedy,” said Dr. Howard Cooper, the coroner in Lake County.

The driver, who was later identified as 20-year-old Tafara Williams, was hospitalized with serious injuries. Police said she is expected to recover.

Williams’ mother, Clifftina Johnson, told reporters that her daughter begged for her life during the encounter with police. “When I got there, she said, ‘Momma, they just shot us for nothing,'” Johnson said. “My daughter said she put her hand up and if she didn’t put her hand up, she said ‘Momma, I would be dead.'”

Mayor Sam Cunningham said he knows Stinnette’s family and admitted that he’s worried about the impact the shooting will have on Waukegan, which is located about 40 miles north of Chicago. “I’m a Black man who grew up in that same neighborhood. It could have been me,” Cunningham told reporters Wednesday.

“I’m nervous because there’s a lot of uncertainty out there. There’s a lot of rumors flying around. We’re begging, whatever information you have, get it to us. Whatever footage that you have, get it to us,” he added. “We’ve seen this play out throughout this country, but it just rips through communities.”

Marcellis Stinnette
Protesters march in Waukegan, Illinois, on October 22, 2020. Nam Y. Huh / AP

Protesters on Thursday marched across the city, calling on the Department of Justice to take over the investigation. They also demanded the release of video from the incident. Illinois State Police are currently reviewing dashcam footage and body camera videos from the officers.

The teen’s grandmother, Sherrellis, said she wants the officer fired. “They were human beings. They deserved to live,” she said, according to CBS Chicago. “He left a baby behind; left five sisters and a mother and a father behind.”

6 thoughts on “Police Fatally Shoot Black Teen – Here Comes More Protests

  1. All the shootings that have been high lighted this year.. WHAT HAPPENED TO HANDS UP DON”T SHOOT MOVEMENT ??? Guess that only applies when you are not running or committing a crime OBEY COMMANDS, DON”T MAKE THREATENING MOVES and you will probably live to see another day !!

  2. These “people” still don’t get it when you are out that late and an officer is doing their job, you do what is requested. What do you have to do to knock sense into people. It’s common sense. If the officer tells you to get out of the car, get on the ground, etc, the DO IT!

    Stop acting stupid! These morons do foolish things that clearly show hostile intent, whether they think so or not! If you are being stopped by a cop you don’t start moving the car. They have s–t for brains.

    How stupid to put your life in jeopardy in these times with elevations escallated. They bring things on themselves and they will NEVER change.

  3. Why protest over black shooting? Why do they protest only black shootings? Because our illustrious news media only chooses to report issues that will cause protests, hence more news time. Our MSM is responsible for virtually all unrest in the country today!

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