Peaceful protests in Madison, Wisconsin after officer kills black teenager

On Friday, only days after the Department of Justice issued their ruling on the Ferguson police department’s history of racism in detaining suspects, a 19-year-old black teenager was shot and killed by a Wisconsin police officer.

According to the Associated Press, the young man was shot and killed in what authorities have said happened after he assaulted the cop in question. The police chief for the city said on Saturday that they understood why people were angry as protesters took to the streets.

Tony Robinson was fatally shot by Officer Matt Kenny after a disturbance was reported following a 911 call, which was an account given both by the authorities and neighbors. Police Chief Mike Koval for the Madison police department said on Saturday that Robinson was “unarmed” and it would “make this all the more complicated for the investigators, for the public to accept.”

There were peaceful protests after the murder, with people chanting “Black Lives Matter.” Koval said of the protesters that the police department would “defend, facilitate, foster those First Amendment rights of assembly and freedom of speech.”

The chief also said he spoke with the family of the victim, whose mother, Andrea Irwin, had made a statement which was read by family members during a community meeting. It said, “I can’t even compute what has happened.”

CNN reported that during a press conference, Koval refused to make any comments regarding Robinson’s past history of crime, including armed robbery. He said, “I could but I choose not to. I am not here to do a character workup on someone who lost his life less than 24 hours ago.”

The shooting reportedly followed a call about an individual jumping in front of cars and causing a disturbance. The officer forced his way into the apartment after hearing commotion when the individual allegedly assaulted him before he fired his weapon.

An investigation is ongoing.