Dozens protest police, support family of boy killed by Cal City cops

CALUMET CITY | People who gathered outside police headquarters Thursday night for a candlelight vigil for an autistic teen shot to death by city officers called for the mayor's and police chief's ouster.

Shouting "Pack up, 'Quackinbush,' and take (Police Chief Edward) Gilmore with you," the protesters made it clear they blamed police for the death of 15-year-old Stephon Watts.

Family supporters held candles as they circled the police station at 1200 Pulaski Road. But their disgust with the Police Department and Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush was expressed in blunt terms.

Gilmore has said the two officers who shot Watts were justified.

Several south suburban pastors and officials with the south suburban chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People worked with 4th Ward Alderman Brian Wilson to coordinate the Thursday night vigil.

Watts' mother, Danelene Powell-Watts, attended, although she declined to speak. She had met earlier with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who spoke privately with her at her Forsythe Avenue home.

Elvira Minter Stephens, who lives down the block from the Watts family, said residents are particularly upset because Watts had come to the attention of police in the past, and that police were aware he had a form of autism.

"There was no reason they had to kill him," she said.

Wilson called the shooting unjust and said he'd like to have as many outside entities as possible investigate the death. He was critical of people who think he should automatically be supporting the Police Department in this case.

"I'm one of the first to clap when they do a good or great job. But that didn't happen here," Wilson said. "I feel I have to speak out about this."

The shooting occurred Wednesday morning when police were called to the Watts house after an outburst between Stephon Watts and his father concerning computer use. Gilmore has said the teen grabbed a kitchen knife and threatened* one of the police officers, while Stephon's mother insists it was a butter knife.

"It was a butter knife, I saw it myself," said David Lowery, president of the NAACP chapter for the south suburbs. He said that after seeing the small place in the house where the shooting took place, "they could have easily subdued him. There was no reason for them to shoot anybody."

Bishop Lance Davis, of the Dolton-based New Zion Christian Fellowship Church, said he believes police were motivated in part by race.

"If this were in Winnetka, this child would be alive today," he said, adding he also is bothered by the fact that Calumet City police a few years ago were involved in an incident involving a teenage boy who claimed to have been beaten inside the police headquarters after being arrested.

"It's the same nonsense all over again," he said. "Nobody learned anything."

That case resulted in a federal lawsuit against the city that was settled out of court. The Watts family has retained Chicago attorney Marion Victoria Cruz, although as of Thursday no legal action had been filed, said the Watts family's cousin, the Rev. Aaron Watts, of Let's Grow Now Ministries.

He said he will pray for forgiveness for Gilmore as well as the two officers, who are on paid administrative leave while the Illinois State Police investigate the shooting.

"I'm a Christian. I believe in forgiveness, particularly if this incident means people will be more aware of autism," the Rev. Watts said. "Then Stephon will not have died in vain."

*Editor's note: Police say Stephon Watts cut an officer's left forearm.

Gilmore has said the teen grabbed a kitchen knife and threatened* one of the police officers, while Stephon's mother insists it was a butter knife.