Shattered Relations Recounting the death of Kiwane Carrington

By The News-Gazette, Inc.

On October 9, 2009, 15 year old Kiwane Carrington was shot and killed by an on-duty police officer, Daniel Norbits, from the Champaign Police Department. This is the recounting of the news stories, editorials, and letters to the editor published by The News-Gazette in its daily newspaper and on news-gazette.com reporting on and reacting to that fateful incident.

Activists in the city's black community had been complaining about police abuse for years, and city officials had come off as dismissive. They trust their police officers to adhere to training and treat everyone equally. The perception among those who are being policed was exactly the opposite.

The blast of Norbits' gunshot on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, may as well have been the detonation of a bomb that had been ticking for years. What the black community had feared all along had happened – an innocent black kid was murdered because of an oppressive white police force, they would say. Relations between the city's police force and the black community had already been splintered, but they shattered that day.

Mourning, protests and emotional testimony at city council meetings would ensue.

In the two years since the shooting of Kiwane Carrington, the relationship has improved marginally, and a clear narrative has emerged as documented by The News-Gazette. Community leaders and city officials alike will still say there still is a lot of work to do, but the difference now is that they acknowledge it. The consequences from Kiwane's death continue to reverberate. And The News-Gazette will be there to chronicle the next chapters.

Unfortunately, it took the death of a teenager for everyone in the community to recognize an urgent need to repair a shattered relationship.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The News-Gazette, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 7, 2011
• ISBN: 9780984606337

Book preview

Shattered Relations

Recounting the death of Kiwane Carrington

By The News-Gazette, Inc.

Published by The News-Gazette, Inc. at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 The News-Gazette, Inc.

Cover design by Joan Millis

eISBN 978-0-9846063-3-7

ISBN 0-9846063-3-5

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

PART I: DEATH - GRIEF - MISTRUST

10/10/09 - Teen killed in scuffle with police - Two 15-year-olds were allegedly trying to break into a house; Chief R.T. Finney injured his shoulder in the incident

10/11/09 - OBITUARIES - Kiwane Carrington

10/12/09 - Occupant of home says slain teen was welcome there

10/12/09 - Autopsy shows teen was shot in chest

10/13/09 - More questions, few answers

10/13/09 - Separate investigation will look into officers’ actions

10/13/09 - Champaign releases name of officer in shooting

10/13/09 - News-Gazette editorial - Authorities must act with dispatch

10/13/09 - Home renter: Teen lived there

10/14/09 - Officer ID’d, was involved in a previous fatal incident

10/14/09 - Teen released into his mother’s custody

10/14/09 - OBITUARIES - Kiwane Carrington

10/15/09 - Mourners pay respects in the rain

10/15/09 - Chicago senator speaks to Jackson, calls for healing

10/16/09 - Lessons in kindness - Students say they’ll take message about reaching out to others to heart

10/16/09 - READY school reeling from teen’s death

10/16/09 - Friends remember 15-year-old slain in scuffle

10/16/09 - Letter to the Editor - Here are answers about the shooting

10/16/09 - Letter to the Editor - Sorry for dead teen, but also for officer

10/17/09 - Shoulder to shoulder in sorrow - Mourners pack teenager’s funeral with messages of anger, forgiveness, hope

10/17/09 - News-Gazette Editorial - In a matter of moments, a nightmare

10/18/09 - Letter to the Editor - People responsible for their choices

10/18/09 - Letter to the Editor - Real issue can’t be set on back burner

10/18/09 - Letter to the Editor - Shooting death shows the need for change

10/18/09 - Letter to the Editor - Shooting incident is not about race

PART II: COMMUNITY DIVIDED - POLICY RECONSIDERED

10/19/09 - Agenda trimmed to accommodate shooting discussion

10/20/09 - Letter to the Editor - Lesson is simple: don’t resist police

10/20/09 - Letter to the Editor - Race of youth cost him his life

10/20/09 - Letter to the Editor - We must learn from youth’s death

10/20/09 - Classmates trying to cope with loss

10/21/09 - Study session to focus on use-of-force policy

10/21/09 - More comments from Tuesday's city council meeting

10/21/09 - Speakers Chide Police - Firing of Chief Finney, change of use-of-force policy among requests

10/21/09 - Community members call for change in shooting’s wake

10/21/09 - Letter to the Editor - Black community does need answers

10/21/09 - Letter to the Editor - Letters on shooting displayed ignorance

10/21/09 - Letter to the Editor - Use of Tasers is not a good idea

10/21/09 - Letter to the Editor - Was a stereotype at play in shooting?

10/22/09 - News-Gazette Editorial - An angry night at city hall

10/22/09 - March set for today in Champaign

10/23/09 - Teens march, call for change

10/23/09 - Letter to the Editor - Get facts before forming opinion

10/23/09 - Letter to the Editor - Lawful orders must be followed

10/23/09 - Letter to the Editor - Police must hold to standard of integrity

10/23/09 - Letter to the Editor - Race is not issue in police matters

10/24/09 - Study session set on ‘use of force’ policies

10/25/09 - City in no rush for review board

10/25/09 - Council willing to wait for state police report

10/25/09 - News-Gazette Editorial - Talking past each other?

10/25/09 - Letter to the Editor - Police really do try to serve community

10/25/09 - Letter to the Editor - The force of law requires compliance

10/27/09 - Letter to the Editor - Cultural issue not easy to understand

10/27/09 - Letter to the Editor - Form your judgment based on the facts

10/28/09 - Letter to the Editor - Good overcomes evil if we follow Jesus

10/29/09 - Champaign police review will take place next week

10/30/09 - News-Gazette Editorial - Force policy must be fully aired

10/30/09 - Letter to the Editor - It’s always sad when a young person dies

10/30/09 - Letter to the Editor - What do we expect from police officers?

11/2/09 - Letter to the Editor - Finney’s ad critic should disappear

11/2/09 - Letter to the Editor - Law enforcement raises questions

11/5/09 - Speaker offers advice to youths dealing with loss

11/8/09 - Group comes under fire; members defend its usefulness

11/9/09 - Use-of-force policy will be reviewed

11/10/09 - Letter to the Editor - Questions abound in Carrington case

11/11/09 - Police chief calls for policy on Taser use

11/11/09 - Letter to the Editor - Suspicion spurred by past injustices

PART III: ILLINOIS STATE POLICE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT

11/12/09 - Prosecutor receives report on 15-year-old's death

11/13/09 - Youth charged in fatal arrest opts for new attorney

11/15/09 - Letter to the Editor - Parental discipline remains important

11/16/09 - News-Gazette Editorial - After review, release the report on shooting

11/16/09 - Letter to the Editor - Inflammatory words make matters worse

11/17/09 - Letter to the Editor - Make something good out of a tragedy

11/18/09 - Letter to the Editor - Shooting probe must be honest and open

11/18/09 - Estimated property tax levy approved

11/19/09 - Letter to the Editor - Questions on story about court hearing

11/19/09 - ‘Soft lockdown’ an option for Champaign schools

11/21/09 - Police to revise policy on use of deadly force

11/29/09 - Letter to the Editor - When will the chief start communicating?

11/30/09 - News-Gazette Editorial - Revised force policy good idea

12/1/09 - Work sought for exhibition

12/2/09 - Citizen: Champaign officer on leave has been at work

12/3/09 - Letter to the Editor - Lesson learned from Carrington death

12/6/09 - Guest Editorial - There are no sides: Death of black youth hurting us all

12/8/09 - State's attorney: Shooting was accident; no charges

12/8/09 - Text of state's attorney's report summary

Link to original documents from Kiwane Carrington investigation

PART IV: COMMUNITY REACTION

12/8/09 - Rights group wants special prosecutor in shooting death - State’s attorney says investigation is being handled properly

12/9/09 - Displeasure expressed at city council meeting12/9/09 - Officials promise independent probe

12/9/09 - Schools braced for worst, but things stayed quiet

12/9/09 - Teen’s guardian sues city, officer

12/9/09 - Rights group members disappointed by no filing of charges12/9/09 - Prosecutor: Shooting review one of 'more difficult cases'

12/9/09 - News-Gazette Editorial - No charges no surprise in police shooting

12/10/09 - Champaign requests FBI review of Carrington incident

12/11/09 - Feds agree to review state investigation

12/11/09 - Letter to the Editor - Officers’ attitudes can be intimidating

12/11/09 - House Theater performances today, Saturday

12/12/09 - News-Gazette Editorial - After shooting report, what’s next?

12/13/09 - Letter to the Editor - Anger and hatred won’t solve problem

12/13/09 - Letter to the Editor - Black community must assert itself

12/13/09 - Letter to the Editor - It’s just not right to blame Carrington

12/13/09 - Letter to the Editor - Media has reported enough on shooting

12/13/09 - Letter to the Editor - More at play here than people realize

12/13/09 - Letter to the Editor - Officers don’t know what awaits them

12/13/09 - Letter to the Editor - Shooting lawsuit doesn’t make sense

12/13/09 - Letter to the Editor - Shooting report is most disturbing

12/13/09 - Letter to the Editor - There’s always time to complain later

12/16/09 - Letter to the Editor - Champaign needs police review board

12/16/09 - Letter to the Editor - Police critic wrong in all categories

12/17/09 - Letter to the Editor - Energized community can address problem

12/17/09 - Letter to the Editor - Not every teacher, cop have good motive

12/18/09 - Letter to the Editor - Resisting police is expression of freedom

12/20/09 - City ‘trying to improve our nonwhite staff numbers’

12/22/09 - Letter to the Editor - Difficult to accept report of shooting

12/26/09 - Letter to the Editor - Officials mishandled Carrington case

12/28/09 - Letter to the Editor - Don’t belittle lawsuit in Carrington case

12/30/09 - Letter to the Editor - Police must be careful with use of guns

PART V: REVERBERATIONS 2010

1/10/10 - Guest Editorial - Averting future tragedies requires identifying the problem

1/11/10 - Changes to policy on use of force on agenda

1/12/10 - 2 advisers to review police policies

1/13/10 - Revised policy adopted to guide police

1/16/1 - Letter to the Editor - Why not a review board in Champaign?

1/17/10 - Guest Editorial - Juvenile justice in Champaign County: A racial disparity

1/21/10 - Teen charged with resisting arrest due back in court

1/23/10 - Letter to the Editor - Just whose side are police officers on?

2/12/10 - Investigation still being conducted

2/17/10 - Letter to the Editor - Police could follow woman’s example

2/18/10 - Case for 2nd teen delayed till April

2/19/10 - Teen’s fatal shooting by police ruled accident

2/23/10 - Forum to tackle police relations

2/25/10 - Letter to the Editor - Chief anology was beyond ridiculous

3/4/10 - Letter to the Editor - Rietz has a duty to dismiss charges

3/4/10 - Brochure will offer advice on interacting with police - Officials plan to distribute pamphlets in public schools

3/6/10 - City posing four questions for attendees

3/7/10 - Guest Editorial - Profiled policing takes toll on minorities locally, nationally

3/8/10 - News-Gazette Editorial - Petition drive badly misguided

3/9/10 - Letter to the Editor - Parents responsible for kids’ behavior

3/13/10 - Is meeting in keeping with law?

3/16/10 - Public’s ideas in city’s hands

3/16/10 - Small overflow crowd easily handled

3/19/10 - Letter to the Editor - Shocking that Rietz hasn’t dismissed case

3/20/10 - Letter to the Editor - Officer video camera would be enlightening

3/27/10 - Letter to the Editor - Lobby group not grounded in reality

4/4/10 - Officials exploring options for complaint process - Reviewing group has heard presentation on mediation

4/7/10 - Champaign council candidates' answers to questions on current issues

4/12/10 - Meeting to help determine status of proposed referendums

4/13/10 - Rietz dismisses charges against second youth in Kiwane Carrington incident

4/14/10 - Charges against 2nd teen dismissed

4/21/10 - Letter to the Editor - Mayor’s comments show great disrespect

4/22/10 - Officer in Kiwane Carrington shooting suspended for 30 days

4/23/10 - Attorney: A start, but not enough

4/23/10 - Discipline decision falls short, some say

4/23/10 - Officer suspended - Norbits uncertain on whether or not he’ll appeal the city’s decision

4/23/10 - Police group’s stance dismays activists

4/23/10 - Report: More firearm training needed

4/24/10 - News-Gazette Editorial - A story that doesn’t get any better

4/25/10 - News-Gazette Editorial - Shooting penalty is balancing act

4/30/10 - Letter to the Editor - Officer being offered to appease critics

5/2/10 - Letter to the Editor - All teens capable of making mistakes

5/8/10 - Officer appeals month long suspension

5/12/10 - Letter to the Editor - Must set aside fear to make progress

5/16/10 - Letter to the Editor - Tired of criticism aimed at officer

5/18/10 - Letter to the Editor - Shooting facts don’t make sense

5/20/10 - Letter to the Editor - Reader missed point, clarification needed

5/26/10 - Official denies request to reconsider suspension - Attorney says Norbits plans to proceed with appeal by seeking arbitration

6/18/10 - City council to view report on police complaint process - Review panel’s suggestions include mediation component

6/18/10 - Letter to the Editor - Can’t blame the gun for youth’s death

6/21/10 - New Curtis Road subdivision plan to be reviewed

6/22/10 - Champaign council backs changes to police complaints, but some remain unsatisfied

6/24/10 - Some citizens say changes don’t go far enough - Officials will spend next several months implementing panel’s suggestions

8/9/10 - Getting to know Champaign government

8/10/10 - Police relations input sought

8/26/10 - Officer in shooting is on leave

9/12/10 - Guest Editorial - Restorative justice an alternative to punishing wrongdoers

9/17/10 - Tentative deal may settle suit

9/20/10 - Vote set on wrongful-death settlement

9/22/10 - Family unhappy with council’s settlement - Members unanimously OK $470,000

9/22/10 - Letter to the Editor - Lawsuit against city misstates the facts

9/23/10 - News-Gazette Editorial - Shooting case quietly settled

9/27/10 - Letter to the Editor - Comments referred to school issues

9/30/10 - Letter to the Editor - City’s settlement sends wrong message

10/3/10 - ‘Embarrassing to our community’

10/6/10 - Letter to the Editor - Speak out against ‘polar bear’ attacks

10/8/10 - News-Gazette Columnist - Can’t we all at least try to get along

10/10/10 - Marking the move forward

10/10/10 - Timeline: What has happened in the year since the shooting incident10/13/10 - New lawsuit filed against Champaign police chief

10/14/10 - Suit alleges police chief shot teen

10/15/10 - News-Gazette Editorial - Shooting allegation is way over the top

10/15/10 - Lawyer says facts in case may change

PART VI: REVERBERATIONS 2011

1/2/11 - Guest Editorial - Racial disparities in punishment reflect laws, not behavior

2/5/11 - Judge may lend hand in settlement distribution

2/6/11 - Councilmen willing to listen - and speak up - Relative newcomer in Champaign, longtime representative in Urbana both show passion for their jobs

2/15/11 - Justice: No prosecutable offense in teen’s death

2/17/11 - News-Gazette Editorial - Feds complete Carrington probe

2/24/11 - Sisters of slain teen get bulk of settlement

3/22/11 - All six counts of 2nd teen’s suit dismissed

3/25/11 - Champaign mayoral rivals face off

3/26/11 - Forum on police relations set for Monday

3/28/11 - Letter to the Editor - Reject incumbents in Champaign election

4/3/11 - Candidates answer some questions

4/3/11 - Voters will make the write pick

4/7/11 - Champaign was split in mayoral race - Gerard, the winner, took northeast, while Schweighart won in southwest

4/9/11 - News-Gazette Editorial - Carrington case still haunting city

4/9/11 - Champaign teen held on weapon charge - Youth was present when friend Kiwane Carrington was fatally shot by a police officer

4/20/11 - Teen’s lawyer refiles suit against city, officers - Complaint says Jeshaun Manning-Carter suffered emotional distress after witnessing friend’s death

4/21/11 - Teen pleads guilty in stun gun case - Sentencing will take place in June

6/4/11 - Champaign teen who had stun gun receives probation

7/10/11 - A leading voice on law-enforcement issues - Champaign’s Finney opens up about his new post in Q&A

8/20/11 - Chief Finney to retire in 2012 - Search for his replacement will start immediately

PART VII: PHOTOGRAPHS

INTRODUCTION

A light rain trickles down the windshield of Champaign police officer Daniel Norbits' marked cruiser when he hears a dispatcher break in on his radio: burglary in progress in the 900 block of West Vine Street. Norbits hasn't been ordered to the call, but he's only three or four minutes away, so he starts toward the crime scene.

He's on the power shift – noon to 10:30 p.m. The burglary call comes in about 1:20 p.m., but it will be the last he'll take today.

Norbits arrives behind Police Chief R.T. Finney, who pulled up in his black, unmarked Toyota Highlander seconds before. The house was described as white with gray trim. But Finney, in a blue University of Illinois sweatshirt, black leather coat and jeans, is approaching behind a house next door with his badge affixed to his jacket and his gun holstered at his side.

Norbits, in full uniform with his .45-caliber Glock on his right hip, stays near a corner of the house to establish a perimeter. A third officer has just arrived and walks around to another side. Norbits can't see behind the blue house next door, where Finney is about to draw his gun. And he can't see behind the white house, where two black teenagers are pressed up against a locked door.

Kiwane Carrington and Jeshaun Manning-Carter can't see that a group of white police officers are closing in on them. They've had run-ins with the police before, but right now, they are busy trying to get inside.

Only three people have keys to the house: renter Deborah Thomas, her brother and her landlord. Carrington sometimes rides over from his home a few doors down on his blue Huffy, sneaks in and spends the night. If it is nice outside, he'll hang out in the yard while the doors are locked. But today, it's raining. He'd rather be inside.

Thomas has just finished a class at Parkland College and is at the library. She was careful to lock all the doors and windows before she left. Carrington would normally be at school now, but today is a teacher institute day. He's still not allowed to be at the house when no adults are around, but he has always been respectful and has never stolen anything, Thomas would later tell police. Finney doesn't know that yet. He only heard the call of a burglary in progress, and now sees the two black teenagers pressed up against a locked door.

Norbits, oblivious to what's going on behind the adjacent houses, sees Finney emerge along a fence line behind the house to the east. The chief draws his gun, points it toward the back of the house on the west and yells, Stop, or I will shoot you.

That command piques Norbits' awareness. What did Finney see? Norbits advances toward the back of the white house.

Both Norbits and Finney, guns drawn and leveled on the teens, begin yelling at them to get down. The teens can't run away because the yard is fenced, and police are blocking the only exit. So they approach the officers. Carrington is putting his hands in and out of his cream-colored hooded sweatshirt, and Norbits doesn't know what he's going for.

They are close enough now where the officers can touch them. Finney pushes Manning-Carter back, telling him to get down. Norbits puts his hand on Carrington's shoulder and tries to pull him down. Get on the ground! Norbits yells. Carrington twists, moves. Norbits loses a hold of him.

Get down! Get on the ground! Norbits pleads. He projects his authority, but truth be told, fear starts to creep in. The teens are not following the officers' commands, and it has been reported that a third suspect is somewhere close. Maybe he's already in the house. Maybe he's got a weapon. Norbits is trying to do two things at once: Subdue the struggling Carrington and keep an eye on the back door for fear of being ambushed.

He thinks back to what Finney said: Stop, or I will shoot you. What did the chief see? Did Carrington have a weapon? Because his hands are still going in and out of his pockets. Did Finney see a third suspect?

As it would turn out, Finney only saw the two teenagers against the door. Some items were scattered about the back yard – a weight bench, bricks, trash, a few gloves on the ground. And a blue Huffy bike. Nothing that posed an immediate risk. Norbits would find out later that Carrington was unarmed, and there was never a third suspect.

Manning-Carter tries to push his way past Finney again, and this time the chief grabs his shirt and pulls him to the ground. The two are wrestling. Manning-Carter is trying to get back up, and Finney is trying to put some distance between them so he has time to holster his gun – or use it, if he needs to. Finney feels something pop in his shoulder, but he'll deal with that later.

Inches away, Norbits is wrestling with Carrington. Norbits still has his gun drawn, and his finger is on the trigger.

The city's black community will see the balance of power as clear: Two white, armed Champaign police officers are side-by-side, wrestling with two unarmed black teenagers. Carrington and Manning-Carter, both 15, are a bit scrawny, even for their ages. Manning-Carter is slim. Carrington is a few inches above five feet, and maybe 110 pounds.

Carrington is not shy around police, though. He's got a rap sheet, including fights and criminal damage to property. He's been reported to have resisted arrest before, and according to a victim of a locker room fight, Carrington said, I'm NEG crazy. The North End Gorillas is a street gang that police know well.

Finney hears a gunshot. He doesn't know where it came from, but he looks up at Norbits and Norbits looks over at him. Norbits says he thinks the kid is hit.

Activists in the city's black community had been complaining about police abuse for years, and city officials had come off as dismissive. They trust their police officers to adhere to training and treat everyone equally.

The perception among those who are being policed was exactly the opposite. The blast of Norbits' gunshot on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, may as well have been the detonation of a bomb that had been ticking for years. Relations between the city's police force and the black community had already been splintered, but they shattered that day.

Mourning, protests and emotional testimony at city council meetings would ensue. Finally, what the black community had feared all along had happened – an innocent black kid was murdered because of an oppressive white police force, they would say.

After the state's attorney cleared Norbits of any criminal responsibility, the city responded. At an austere press conference almost two months later, the city manager would outline six initiatives aimed at improving the relationship between police and the community. The city must review its own policies, he said, and work with the community to encourage youth development and a simple understanding of each other. The dialogue had begun.

In two years since the shooting of Kiwane Carrington, the relationship has improved marginally, and a clear narrative has emerged as documented by The News-Gazette. Community leaders and city officials alike will still say there still is a lot of work to do, but the difference now is that they acknowledge it. And The News-Gazette will be there to chronicle the next chapters.

Unfortunately, it took the death of a teenager for everyone in the community to recognize an urgent need to repair a shattered relationship.

PATRICK WADE

September 2011

PART I: DEATH - GRIEF - MISTRUST

10/10/09 - Teen killed in scuffle with police - Two 15-year-olds were allegedly trying to break into a house; Chief R.T. Finney injured his shoulder in the incident

By PAUL WOOD

CHAMPAIGN - A 15-year-old boy was shot dead and Champaign’s police chief injured during an altercation between police officers and youths who may have been trying to break into a house Friday, police said.

The fight involved two 15-year-olds, who may have been part of a larger group trying to get into a house at 906 W. Vine St., as well as Chief R.T. Finney and an unnamed officer, who has been placed on paid administrative leave.

The dead teen was identified by Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup as Kiwane Carrington, of the 1400 block of North Champaign Street, C. That information was released during a 9 p.m. press conference called by police to provide information on the incident to community leaders. According to a release provided by police, The Champaign Police Department remains concerned for all those that were involved in this incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the 15-year-old, as well as our officers and their families.

The other teen was not identified because he is a juvenile, police said.

The events transpired within a matter of minutes, Deputy Chief Troy Daniels said at a brief press conference Friday afternoon.

At 1:20 p.m., a neighbor called to tell police that at least two youths were trying to get into a house, both through doors and windows.

The unnamed officer got to the scene almost immediately, and Finney also responded. Daniels said the chief often goes out on calls.

When the two officers tried to detain the boys, a scuffle ensued during which a police weapon discharged, fatally injuring Mr. Carrington. The other boy was not hurt, Daniels said.

The weapon involved was not the chief’s, Daniels said.

They did not follow instructions to comply with officers and get on the ground, Daniels said. The unnamed officer was in full uniform; Finney displayed a badge, the deputy chief said.

Mr. Carrington was taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, after he received emergency aid from other officers within earshot of the incident, Daniels said. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 2:16 p.m., according to Northrup. An autopsy will be performed at 3 p.m. today, and a coroner’s inquest will be held at a later date.

The other 15-year-old was taken to the Champaign police lockup, on suspicion of burglary.

During the fight, Finney’s shoulder was hurt. He was treated at Carle and released. Daniels said he couldn’t say at this time whether Finney was injured by some sort of weapon.

Several agencies are investigating, including the Urbana, Rantoul and the University of Illinois police departments. The Illinois State Police is taking the lead, Daniels said.

Sgt. Bill Emery could not be reached for comment Friday evening.

10/11/09 - OBITUARIES - Kiwane Carrington

CHAMPAIGN - Kiwane Carrington, 15, of Champaign died at 2:16 p.m. Friday (Oct. 9, 2009) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at Melker Bluitt Parker Mortuary, 704 N. Fourth St., Champaign.

10/12/09 - Occupant of home says slain teen was welcome there

By PAUL WOOD

Monday, October 12, 2009 5:05 PM CDT

CHAMPAIGN - The 15-year-old boy who was shot outside a Champaign home Friday had lived in the house all summer long and was like a son, the occupant of the house said.

Kiwane Carrington died after being shot during a scuffle with police Chief R.T. Finney and another officer about 1:30 p.m. Friday at 906 W. Vine St. Another boy in the scuffle, also 15, remains in police custody on a burglary change. His name has not been released by the police or the family.

At a press conference Monday at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, occupant Debra Thomas said the teen was a good boy and was welcome at her home. A 911 caller said the two boys were trying to get into the house through both doors and windows, and officers responded.

When the boys did not do as ordered by the police, a scuffle ensued, and the unnamed officer’s handgun went off. He was placed on paid administrative leave, Deputy Chief Troy Daniels said on Friday.

Kenesha Williams, Mr. Carrington’s sister and guardian, was at the press conference. Family members said he was a good kid who had been troubled in the last year after his mother died of pancreatic cancer.

Thomas also praised the young man, and asked how was it burglary when he was welcome there? She said police, not burglars, had damaged her house, including breaking off the back door.

Family members also said they were not notified of the young man’s death for several hours.

Community leaders called for more openness from the police about the investigation into the shooting. Activist Terry Townsend said relations between Champaign police and the African American community were at a breaking point.

Our relations are no good after today, Townsend said.

Daniels could not be reached for comment.

Townsend called for community members to address the Champaign city council on Tuesday. But City Manager Steve Carter told The News-Gazette that the council's agenda is set and while the community is welcome to attend, there would be no room on the agenda for comments about the Friday incident.

The council is scheduled to have dinner at 5:15 p.m. and then the meeting, which will not be televised, is set to begin about 6 p.m. at the Illinois Terminal, 45 E. University Ave. He encouraged them to come to the city council's meeting next week on Oct. 20.

There will also be a candlelight vigil at 906 W. Vine St. at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Friends of the family will be setting up an account to contribute toward the funeral expenses.

10/12/09 - Autopsy shows teen was shot in chest

By TIM MITCHELL

CHAMPAIGN - An autopsy indicates that a 15-year-old Champaign boy who was fatally wounded on Friday died from a single gunshot wound, according to Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup.

Meanwhile, a second boy at the scene is being held at the Champaign County Youth Detention Center, a task force of several police jurisdictions has begun an investigation of the incident, city officials plan to meet today with the Champaign Community and Police Partnership, and counselors will be on hand at Champaign schools today.

Northrup said an autopsy performed by a pathologist in Bloomington at 3 p.m. Saturday indicated Kiwane Carrington, 15, of the 1400 block of North Champaign Street, Champaign, died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Mr. Carrington was shot and Champaign’s police chief was injured during an altercation Friday at a house at 906 W. Vine St., C.

According to a police report, a neighbor called police at 1:20 p.m. to report that at least two young people were attempting to get into the house through windows and doors. An unnamed Champaign police officer and Police Chief R.T. Finney arrived at the scene and tried to detain the two boys.

Deputy Chief Troy Daniels said the teens did not follow instructions from police to get on the ground, and a scuffle followed in which a police weapon discharged, fatally injuring Mr. Carrington.

The second boy was not injured, according to Daniels.

Mr. Carrington was taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, where he was pronounced dead at 2:16 p.m. Friday, Northrup said.

Daniels said the second boy, whose name was not released since he is a minor, was being held at the youth detention center on Sunday after being arrested on a preliminary charge of residential burglary.

Finney said on Sunday afternoon that he was still a little sore following his injuries.

Finney had a sprained shoulder and knee and several cuts and was released from the hospital on Friday.

Since the incident is still under investigation, Finney said he didn’t want to comment except to say, The police department wants to express its condolences to Mr. Carrington’s family. We are asking for time to allow the Illinois State Police and the multi-jurisdictional investigative team to collect its information and complete its investigation before people draw any conclusions.

The Champaign County Multi-jurisdictional Investigative Team includes representatives from the state police, the University of Illinois, Urbana and Rantoul police departments and the Champaign County sheriff’s office, with the state police serving as the lead agency, Daniels said.

Sgt. Bill Emery of the state police did not return calls for comment on Sunday.

Daniels said the unnamed police officer was not injured and has been placed on paid administrative leave.

That is a routine procedure in a situation like this, Daniels said.

Daniels said the city has called for an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon at the Champaign Police Department with the Champaign Community and Police Partnership.

Daniels said representatives from the police department and the city manager’s office, along with Champaign City Manager Steve Carter, will talk with partnership members about Friday’s incident and the investigative process.

We want to talk about the next steps to bring healing to the community, Daniels said.

Daniels described the partnership as a group of community leaders who get together to look for ways to work together to improve communication and cooperation.

Our purpose at Monday’s meeting will be to provide information to the community leaders and to listen to what their concerns are, Daniels said.

I have concerns, but I want to wait until I hear the information before I make any comments, said the Rev. Jerome Chambers, a partnership member.

Meanwhile, the Champaign school district has arranged to have