Watts' mother wants federal investigation

CALUMET CITY | The mother of a teenage boy shot to death last week by police officers said Thursday she wants federal law enforcement officials to investigate.

Danelene Powell Watts spoke before the Calumet City Council prior to its regular meeting, telling officials she is not confident the current investigation by Illinois State Police will be sufficient.

"The Calumet City Police Department has my son's blood on their hands," she said. "I demand a federal investigation of the Calumet City Police Department."

She said cooperating with such an investigation is the least that city officials could do, "to show respect for my kid."

Powell Watts' son, Stephon Watts, a 15-year-old who suffered from Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, was involved in a domestic dispute at his home, and police were called. Police have said the youth grabbed a kitchen knife and cut a police officer on the arm, and officers fatally shot him. Watts' family said he was holding a butter knife at the time of the shooting.

The killing angered many activists and African-American pastors in Chicago and the south suburbs, and about 100 people also showed up at the City Council session — spending about one hour airing their grievances.

Among those activists was Fred Hampton Jr., the son of 1960s Black Panther activist Fred Hampton, who was shot to death by Chicago police. He called the shooting of Stephon Watts a "case of police terrorism."

"All eyes are on Calumet City now," he added.

Also upset was Paul McKinley, a Roseland neighborhood-based activist who focuses attention on cases involving police brutality. He said he thinks Calumet City police officials offered an account of the shooting meant to "assassinate (Stephon's) character" rather than get at the truth of what happened.

He said many area residents are now afraid of the Calumet City police, fearing they will be confronted with the officers who shot Watts.

Police Chief Edward L. Gilmore declined to comment on the protesters.

At one point, the protesters chanted: "Racist cops, you can't hide; we charge you with genocide" while a resident tried speaking in favor of the police. Some people used the same chant to drown out the Pledge of Allegiance when the City Council began its actual Thursday night meeting.

Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush reiterated her previous statements on the issue, saying Thursday the two police officers are on administrative leave while the state police investigation continues, and the city's lawyers advised her to say nothing more on the matter.

That response upset Bishop Lance Davis of Dolton-based New Zion Christian Fellowship Church.

"It is an arrogant system (of city government) that needs to be removed," Davis said. "They won't even say they're sorry for the loss."