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Bettie Jones; Quintonio LeGrier
CBS News Screenshot
55-year-old Bettie Jones received a call early Saturday morning asking if she could help police gain access to the building. According to ABC 7 Chicago, Jones’ West Garfield Park neighbor, Quintonio LeGrier, 19, was wielding a bat and acting erratic so, his father called the police and then called downstairs to ask if Jones could open the front door to let the cops in. Shortly after police arrived, both LeGrier and Jones were fatally shot.
Police have publicly stated that Jones was shot accidentally but family and friends of LeGrier and Jones are struggling to understand why deadly force was necessary; leaving many to wonder if this most recent shooting is apart of a culture of aggressive and deadly policing of black communities.
“What about the Tasers?” Jacqueline Walker, a friend of Jones told CNN. “Taser him down, don’t start shooting people, innocent people.”
Police claim that they received a call early Saturday about a domestic dispute and when they arrived LeGrier began charging toward them holding an aluminum bat. Police opened fire hitting both Jones and LeGrier.
The Cook County Medical Examiner told CNN on Sunday that Jones died of a gunshot wound to the chest and LeGrier died of multiple gunshot wounds. LeGrier’s mother, Janet Cooksey, told ABC that her son was shot seven times including once in the buttocks.
LaTonya Jones, the daughter of Bettie Jones holds a picture of her mother during a vigil outside her home on December 27, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
The medical examiner ruled both deaths homicides, CNN reports. Authorities have not released many details in the shooting and it is unknown as to whether or not video of the incident exists.
According to ABC, LeGrier was a Northern Illinois University student who, his mother notes, struggled with mental illness but was not violent. LeGrier was an honor student who sent his mom inspirational quotes each day, ABC reports.
“I used to watch the news daily and grieve for other mothers and family members,” Cooksey told ABC. “Today, I am grieving myself. When does it end? … No mother should have to bury her child, especially under these circumstances.”
Jahmal Cole, who identified himself as Jones nephew, told CNN that his aunt, a mother of five and grandmother who worked as a baker, has a right to open her door without fear of being shot.
“She should not have had to open her door and be shot down by a Chicago police officer,” Cole said during a Sunday press conference, ABC reports.
Janet Cooksey (R) shares a picture of her son as she listens to speakers talk about the deaths of her son Quintonio LeGrier, and Bettie Jones before the start of a vigil on December 27, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
“What happened should matter to everyone,” he declared. “Everyone was celebrating Christmas like any other family. She should not have to be shot down just coming to the door. Your family does not want to wake up to news like this.”
This shooting comes only weeks after protest demanding that police release the video footage showing Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke fatally shooting Laquan McDonald in October 2014. Van Dyke has been charged with murder and is currently awaiting trial.
On Sunday, Jones and LeGrier family members demanded accountability from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the police department.
Emanuel who is on vacation in Cuba issued a statement a day after the shooting noting that changes must be made in how police respond to mental health situations
“There are serious questions about yesterday’s shootings that must be answered in full by the Independent Police Review Authority’s investigation,” Emanuel said, CNN reports.
“While their investigation is underway, we must also make real changes within our police department today and it is clear changes are needed to how officers respond to mental health crises.”
Read more at ABC 7 Chicago and CNN.
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