An Illinois City is demanding justice after police fatally shot a Black teenager and injured a woman late Tuesday night. Police say the shooting occurred because the vehicle had allegedly driven in reverse toward an officer.
On Thursday the local police department said the officer was, “investigating an occupied vehicle” when the suspects fled the scene. The department said that a second officer had approached the vehicle before it began to move in reverse toward him, the officer then feared for his safety and fired his semi-automatic pistol.
Officials have not released the name of the officer involved, but they claim that he is a Hispanic man who has been with the force for five years. The Illinois State Police are investigating and the officer has been placed on administrative leave.
Police say that the passenger of the vehicle, 19-year-old Marcellis Stinnette was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. The autopsy showed the Stinnette died from gunshot wounds. There were no weapons found inside the vehicle.
Lake Counties coroner Dr. Howard Cooper said, “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.”
Police say they have identified the driver as Stinnette’s girlfriend, Tafara Williams, she was taken to the hospital with serious injuries but she is expected to recover.
Her mother, Clifftina Johnson, told reporters that her daughter said she was pleading for her life. “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.”
On Wednesday, Mayor Sam Cunningham said that he knew of both Stinnette and Williams family. He admitted that he’s worried about the impact the shooting will have on the city of Waukegan. He said, “I’m a Black man who grew up in that same neighborhood. It could have been me.” Cunningham said, “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.”
Yesterday, protestors marched across the city to demand that the Department of Justice take over the investigation. They also called for the release of the video. Illinois police are currently reviewing the officer’s dashcam and body camera footage.
According to CBS Chicago, Stinnette’s grandmother said she wants the officer fired, “They were human beings. They deserved to live.” She added, “He left a baby behind; left five sisters and a mother and a father behind.”
