Mother: Son Didn't Have Gun When Shot By Phili Police

Police Say Suspect Had BB Gun
The mother of a 22-year-old man shot by police told NBC 10 News Thursday that police claims that he had a gun are just not true. "I'm very angry. Very upset. I want some justice done about it," said Ruth Miller, the suspect's mother. Police are identifying the man who was shot as 19-year-old Rodney Brown. But the man's mother identified him as Feldon Bush, 22. The shooting happened Wednesday night near the intersection of Unity and Leiper streets in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia. "He said they tried to kill him. They shot him right here, almost in the head. Then, they put him on the ground and threw him in the wagon without putting him on a stretcher," Miller said. Police sources told NBC 10 News that officers were answering a call about a man with a gun who may have been threatening a woman. When police tried to stop Bush and his friend in the Frankford neighborhood, they fled, police said. Miller is outraged that Philadelphia police shot her son just blocks from his home. "He said when the police pulled up on them, the police already had their guns out, like they was going to shoot them, regardless. And, as they was running, a shot went off and it was from the police. My son said to his friend, 'They are shooting." Then his friend said that next thing he knows he seen my son hit the ground," Miller said. [more ]

Philadelphia Police: Officer shot Black man in back

A 22-year-old Hunting Park man killed by police last Monday night near his home after pointing a handgun at an officer was shot in the back, police said yesterday. Authorities say William Baylor, of the 4100 block of North Franklin Street, was chasing another man and firing shots at him about 6 p.m. near Darien Street and Hunting Park Avenue when a police van arrived. The officers ordered Baylor to drop his weapon. Instead, police said, he turned and pointed the gun at them. One of the officers in the van, Robert McCollum, 40, of the 25th District, fired five shots at Baylor from his service weapon, police said. One of those slugs hit Baylor in the left side of his back and exited his chest, an autopsy has revealed, according to investigators. Homicide Unit detectives will examine how Baylor received the back wound and the position he was in when shot in relation to McCollum, police said.Members of Baylor's family are incensed over the killing and upset that police kept them back from the scene and away from him at the hospital. They contended that no life-saving procedures were performed and that police allowed him to lie too long at the scene. Police dispute both accusations, reporting that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed on Baylor and that he arrived at the hospital - about a mile away - at 6:12 p.m., 12 minutes after the shooting. Baylor's mother, Cheryl, 37, said "They said he was shot in the back and it came out his chest. He was only shot one time," Baylor said she was told by a morgue official. "Why would you shoot my child in the back? I don't get it," she said. [more ] and [more ]

White Police Officer Recalls the day he Killed Paul Childs

Denver Police Officer James Turney testified today in his appeal to have his 10-month suspension from duty lifted. Turney was suspended in April after he shot and killed 15-year-old Paul Childs, a developmentally disabled boy, in July 2003. The shooting triggered community outrage. The officer said he feared for his life during his confrontation with the 15 year old so he fired at him. Childs was shot four times and died. The appeal is being heard by a former appeals court judge and Turney is being cross examined by attorneys for the City of Denver. The appeal can go on for a maximum of nine days. Once the appeal proceedings are concluded, the judge will have up to 30 days to decide if Turney will remain suspended. Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman originally recommended a 20-day suspension for Turney. However, Denver City Manager Al LaCabe decided on the final 10-month suspension. [more ]

Black Teen who accused Calumet City cops of brutality appears in court

A teen who claims he was beaten by a police officer after being picked up for jaywalking made his first appearance in City Court on Wednesday. Juliet Boyd, attorney for 15-year-old Don Pennington, asked for more time because the city had not provided her with a copy of its jaywalking ordinance. "In order to properly defend him, we need to know what he's charged with," Boyd said. Hearing officer Clive W. Neish continued the matter until Nov. 11. The teen, also charged with two counts of battery against a police officer, is to appear in juvenile court in Markham on Nov. 23. The TF North sophomore alleges he was picked up for violating the city's jaywalking ordinance Aug. 28 and was beaten at the police station while waiting for his parents to be called. The family filed a brutality charge against Officer Louis Picicco. He was placed on paid administrative leave until the Cook County state's attorney's office completes an investigation. However, the investigation is stalled, police said, because the teen will not speak to investigators. His mother said he will not speak to the state's attorney's office until its case against him is resolved. [more ]

The Murder of Emmett Till; Justice Department reopening 50-year-old case

 

• 14-year-old Black boy was tortured and murdered in Mississippi for whistling at a white woman

For many of you, the name Emmett Till may not sound familiar. But what happened to him in 1955 stunned the nation. Emmett Till was a young black boy who was murdered in Mississippi for whistling at a white woman. And his death was a spark that ignited the civil rights movement in America. Two white men were put on trial for killing him, but in spite of strong evidence against them, they were acquitted in about an hour by an all-white jury. Why are we telling you this now? Because this past spring, the US Justice Department opened a new investigation based on evidence suggesting that more than a dozen people may have been involved in the murder of Emmett Till and that at least five of them are still alive. Those five could face criminal prosecution. And before we tell you about them, let us tell you what happened to Emmett Till. [CBS Transcript here]