Community members say police have yet to reach out, police say attempts have been made

Aaron Aammons, left, co-founder of Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice, speaks during a press conference to discuss the death of 15-year-old Kiwane Carrington at the Independent Media Center in Urbana on Monday, Oct. 12, 2009.
Ned Mulka The Daily Illini

A press conference was held Monday at 10 a.m. at the Independent Media Center in Urbana to discuss the death of 15-year-old Kiwane Carrington.

Carrington was shot by police during an altercation he and another 15-year-old had with Champaign Police Chief R.T. Finney and a Champaign police officer. Police responded to a call at 1:20 p.m. on Friday at the 900 block of West Vine Street after a neighbor reported two subjects entering a nearby residence, according to a press release from the police department. The neighbor did not think they subjects had permission to enter the property.

Deb Williams, the owner of the home, said Carrington was living with her at the time and had her permission to be in the house at any time, even though the boy was supposed to be in school when the struggle occurred.

The incident is currently being investigated by the Champaign County Multi-jurisdictional Investigative Team, which is composed of officers from the University police, Urbana police, Rantoul police, the Illinois State Police Department and the Champaign County Sheriff's Office.

During the press conference family and community members said there has been a lack of communication between the Champaign Police Department and the family, despite many attempts by family members to gain information.

“We did have contact with some family members on the day of the incident,” said Troy Daniels, deputy chief for the department.

Those in attendance at the press conference said they are still waiting to hear the full story from the police department.

“These are the kinds of things that no family should have to endure. That your loved one has been murdered and you don’t have answers why,” said Terry Townsend, self-described community activist.

Townsend also said he believed the basis of the conflict was race.

“There’s something going wrong with the policing in this community that we don’t see in Urbana and we don’t see with the sheriff. We need to get at that,” he said.

After the incident on Friday the department released a statement saying that the "Champaign Police Department reached out to several African American community leaders."

"The department is reaching out to the community to provide information, coordinate with agencies that can offer supportive services to community youth and offer support to officers and their families involved in this incident," according to a police press release from Saturday.

Champaign Police spoke with family members on the day of the incident but Daniels could not say who the department spoke with because the investigation is pending.

Rhonda Williams, Carrington’s aunt, said she did not know why the police could not have used mace or a tazer if necessary. She said she believes the killing was “not a justifiable homicide.”

A benevolent fund will be opened for the family’s funeral and legal expenses tomorrow, said Aaron Ammons, co-founder of Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice. City leaders requested a meeting with members of the Champaign community and police department for Monday afternoon in order to discuss the incident, according to the press release.

The issue will also be discussed at Tuesday's Champaign City Council meeting.

Finney sustained injuries from the incident, but it was not Finney's gun that was discharged, according to a statement from the department.