A white Illinois police officer who shot and killed a black 17-year-old will not be charged, with the prosecutor saying the fleeing teen was holding a loaded handgun and the officer feared for his life and that of a fellow officer.
State's Attorney Michael Nerheim told reporters on Thursday an investigation that included the FBI found Zion police Officer Eric Hill was justified in shooting Justus Howell on April 4, despite concerns of racial bias that arose after a coroner reported Howell had been shot in the back twice.
Howell had met a man to buy a handgun but tried to steal it, authorities said. At some point, he scuffled with the seller and the gun went off. Hill arrived minutes later, chased Howell through yards and repeatedly yelled, "Stop and drop your gun," Nerheim said.
The officer shot Howell when the teen turned toward him with the gun in his right hand, Nerheim said.
Hill, a nine-year police veteran, feared for his own safety and believed that a fellow officer was just around the corner and that Howell was headed for straight for him, Nerheim said.
"Officer Hill was justified in his decision to use deadly force ... Howell was armed and dangerous," Nerheim said. He added that Hill's understanding that shots had been fired earlier and concern for the other officer factored into his calculation to shoot.
After the announcement by Nerheim at the county courthouse in Waukegan, several community activists gathered to express their anger.
Prosecutors on Thursday also released a poor quality video of the shooting from a business security camera in which Hill can be seen running about three metres behind the teen, when shots are fired and Howell falls forward.
Nerheim conceded Howell turned ever so slightly, but he said it was enough for Hill to see Howell's eye and the silver semi-automatic pistol.
Outside of the news conference, Howell's family disputed the decision not to charge the officer.
"There is no video or pictures of him actually holding a gun," Alice Howell, the teen's grandmother, told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Howell's mother, LaToya Howell, said she was upset that authorities said video showed her son turning toward Hill.
"I have seen that video," Howell said, according the Chicago Tribune. "There is nothing that suggests they should execute my son."
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