Family seeks answers as unarmed teen shot and killed by Madison, WI police

Tony Terrell Robinson Jr. was shot and killed after a confrontation with police officers in Madison, Wisconsin. His family is demanding answers.

Tony Terrell Robinson Jr Identified As Victim

Robinson Jr.,19, is a graduate of Sun Prairie High School, a family spokesman and authorities said.

“It’s a challenging time for this family right now. To lose a son, especially the way they lost a son,” said the family spokesman, Michael Johnson.

Shooting

The shooting took place on Friday evening, which immediately sparked protests and a sit-in at Madison City Hall.

According to NBC, Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said at a Friday news conference that an officer — later identified as veteran cop Matt Kenny — responded to reports of a man jumping in and out of traffic and that “the same subject had been responsible for a battery that had recently been committed.”

Koval said the officer followed the man to the residence where the alleged battery took place, and said the man attacked the officer there. During the confrontation, the officer drew his weapon and shot the suspect.

The officer performed CPR on the suspect, who was taken to a hospital but later died, Koval said.

Officer Who Shot Tony Terrell Robinson Jr Identified

The identified officer has been placed on administrative leave as the state Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation conducts an independent probe into the shooting.

“Our community has many questions, questions that I share. There will be answers,” Madison Mayer Paul Soglin said in a statement Saturday. “When the answers come, we will be open and transparent in communicating them.”

Officer Kenny was previously involved in an officer involved shooting, but was exonerated in that case.

More than 100 protesters gathered at the scene of the shooting, according to witnesses and reports.

Some of Robinson’s family members attended the protests, and said investigators have not allowed them to see his body.

“They won’t let us come near him,” Sharon Irwin, Robinson’s grandmother, told the crowd that had gathered Friday night after the altercation. “I just want to hold him and tell him it’s OK. Go home to God. They told me he was evidence.”

“He was a beautiful, beautiful soul and everybody that knew him knew that,” Irwin told the crowd of protesters.