Asperger's syndrome Calumet City teen killed after threatening, cutting police

Updated:
http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-police-shoot-and-kill-autistic-teen-in-calumet-city-family-of-teen-seeking-help-from-naacp-20120202,0,3603992.story

Updated:
http://www.wgntv.com/news/local/breaking/chi-family-says-boy-15-shot-to-death-after-threatening-cutting-police-had-autism-disorder-20120201,0,2807725.story

View video of mother's reaction:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/videogallery/67787764/News/Raw-video-Mother-of-boy-reacts-to-shooting


Asperger's syndrome Calumet City teen killed after threatening, cutting police


Teen suffered from Asperger's syndrome

Dan Ponce

WGN News

4:26 PM CST, February 1, 2012
CALUMET CITY, Ill.

Two Calumet City police officers who shot and killed a teen who suffered from Asperger's syndrome during a domestic disturbance call Wednesday.

Just before 8:30 a.m., Calumet City police responded to a call at the home on the 500 block of Forsythe. Police say 15-year-old Stephon Watts was in the basement and apparently had been fighting with his father.

When two officers went downstairs, police say the boy lunged at the officers with a knife.

The boy's father, who witnessed it, says it was only a butter knife.

Both officers fired one shot each at the boy. He was pronounced dead the hospital a short while later.

The Calumet City police chief says the officers had no choice but to shoot.

Police say they knew the boy suffered from Asperger's syndrome. They had previously responded to the home 10 times and say the boy had attacked officers before.

When asked why the officers didn't use their tasers instead of guns Calumet City Police Chief Edward Gilmore said, “The lead officer did not have a taser. As he came down the stairs he was immediately confronted by the offender , who slashed his arm.”

Police say the one officer was cut in the forearm but the wound wasn't serious.

The boy's family says the use of deadly force was not necessary and that officers should have been prepared with tasers.

“What they did to my son was not justifiable,” said Stephon’s father Steve Watts. “They murdered that kid."

Please read complete article at link below:


http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-calumet-city-teen-killed-after-threatening-cutting-police-feb1,0,5647680.story

Editor's note: ProbateShark is pro law enforcement and is not an expert on procedure....but this Shark believes that if the same troubled kid pulled a knife on a Chicago lead officer cop...the kid might be missing some teeth...have lumps from a billy club...but he would be alive.  Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster,  ProbateSharks.com