News / Human Rights

US police officers kill black man and woman

Sunday, 27 December 2015 1:11 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 27 December 2015 1:11 AM ]

One of Bettie Jones's daughters (left) is hugged on Saturday outside the apartment in Chicago’s West Garfield Park neighborhood where she was shot.

Police in the US city of Chicago have shot dead two more African American citizens, raising further questions about a force already under spotlight for using excessive force against black people.

According to a press release from the Chicago Police Department, officers were responding to a call about a domestic disturbance in the 4700 block of West Erie Street on Saturday morning when they were “confronted by a combative subject resulting in the discharging of the officer’s weapon.”

The department provided no further details of the deadly incident, but family members of the two victims censured officers for handling those struggling with mental health.

Officers arrived at a small beige residence and fatally shot Quintonio LeGrier, 19, a college student who had been experiencing mental health issues.

They also killed Bettie Jones, who was 55 and a first-floor tenant. The a mother of five children apparently attempted to protect LeGrier’s life and was standing between the teenager and officers as shots were fired.

“None of this needed to happen,” said her brother, Melvin Jones. “And they say there will be an investigation into the shooting? I already know how that will turn out. We all know how that will turn out. When is this going to end?”

Last month, a video was released showing a white officer killing unarmed black teenager Laquan McDonald back in October 2014. The revelation stirred a new wave of protests in Chicago.

McDonald, who was black, was shot 16 times in a span of 15 seconds by Jason Van Dyke, who is white. Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder late last month.

Critics have alleged a cover-up in the case, since it took more than a year since McDonald was killed to bring criminal charges.

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