Madison chief to shooting victim's family: 'I am sorry'
The police chief of Madison, Wis., on Monday apologized in an online blog post to the family of Tony Robinson, the black teen who was fatally shot by a white Madison police officer three days ago.
"Reconciliation cannot begin without my stating 'I am sorry,' and I don't think I can say this enough. I am sorry," Chief Mike Koval wrote. "I hope that, with time, Tony's family and friends can search their hearts to render some measure of forgiveness.
"Certainly, this will not take place soon given the circumstances. It may take some time for this loop to close but I pray that it will, in fact, close."
Koval has been pressing themes of patience and restraint since Robinson, 19, was shot by officer Matt Kenny after Kenny responded to a 911 call. Koval published his blog post as hundreds of chanting protesters rallied at the Wisconsin State Capitol, chanting "no justice, no peace."
Turin Carter, Robinson's uncle, urged calm. "We want no further tension with police officers because ... this was an individual act,'' he said.
"I trust Wisconsin and the way they're handling the investigation,'' Carter said.
Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel said in a statement Monday that a team of criminal investigators from the state Department of Justice were gathering facts to present to the local district attorney.
The crowd at the Capitol included many students from Madison East High School and the University of Wisconsin. Organizers urged the crowd to be peaceful — and the rally was, local media reported. A series of vigils, marches and protests since the shooting have consistently been nonviolent.
The tragedy began Friday night when Kenny was among officers responding to a 911 call saying someone had been jumping in front of cars. Kenny pursued the suspect to an apartment, heard a commotion inside and went in, Koval has said. Koval said Kenny shot Robinson after Robinson attacked the officer, who suffered undisclosed injuries.
The shooting came just days after the U.S. Justice Department issued a report blasting the Ferguson, Mo., police force for a pattern of racial profiling and discrimination against its majority-black populace. While Madison police thus far have not been accused of discriminatory behavior, not everyone is content with Koval's response to Friday's shooting.
The Young, Gifted and Black Coalition in Madison has demanded that the city pay for Robinson's funeral and for any costs associated with the family's healing process. And the group said it a statement it wants Kenny to be "held accountable for the murder of Tony Robinson."
"There's nothing the chief can say short of changing the system," Brandi Grayson, a leader of the coalition, told the Associated Press. She added that Koval "had a perfect response — perfect for white people."
Robinson recently began serving three years on probation after pleading guilty in October to armed robbery. Kenny, who shot and killed another suspect eight years ago in what Koval described as a suicide-by-cop, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of Friday's shooting.
Koval said in his blog post that he hoped people won't "define the legacy of service that this department has provided to our public by this tragic incident."
Contributing: William M. Welch in Los Angeles