A Madison, Wisconsin police officer who shot and killed a black teenager in March won't be charged in the young man's death, a visibly distraught Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said at a press conference on Tuesday.
While Ozanne called Tony Robinson Jr.'s death "tragic," he concluded that it was the result of Officer Matt Kenny's "lawful use of force." Beads of sweat ran down his forehead and the sides of his face as he made the announcement.
Madison Police Chief Mike Koval had previously said Kenny killed Robinson on March 6 after officers checked out a complaint that someone was running in and out of traffic and assaulting people. Kenny followed the teenager to an apartment and barged in, at which point the police chief said Robinson assaulted Kenny. The officer shot Robinson in the arm, torso and head.
Ozanne went over nearly all elements of his investigation before finally announcing the decision not to charge the police officer in the young man's death. He followed what he believed to be the path Kenny took in pursuit of Robinson.
"My decision will not bring Tony Robinson back...my decision is not based on emotion" - Ozanne @BadgerHerald pic.twitter.com/kd4G3u7pHJ— Hayley Sperling (@hksperl) May 12, 2015
"My decision will not end the racial disparities that exist in the justice system," he said to the assembled press. "Whether we are policing, teaching or parenting, when we use violence to maintain control, we do so at a tremendous cost."
Ozanne, who is black, talked about how his mother still worries about his safety because of the way law enforcement officers view minorities, but also said that his verdict was not based on emotion.
He then quoted Martin Luther King, Jr. to conclude his conference, asking that any protests following his decision remain peaceful, which infuriated many on Twitter.
The DA actually quoted MLK when rendering his decision not to charge the cop in the killing of Tony Robinson, Jr. Wow— Erik W. (@EdubEsq) May 12, 2015
Apparently, after smearing a dead person you say was unarmed when he was killed, you quote MLK to justify your BS. #TonyRobinson USA! USA!— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) May 12, 2015
Adding insult to injury: using MLK's teachings to shut black people up. #TonyRobinson— Carimah Townes (@CarimahWheat) May 12, 2015
The press conference came after a starkly different announcement in Baltimore on May 1, when Baltimore's top prosecutor Marilyn Mosby announced charges against six Baltimore officers for their involvement in the April death of a black man named Freddie Gray, who died while in police custody.
A protest against Ozanne's decision started within minutes of the end of the press conference, and more demonstrations were already scheduled for Wednesday.
The Wisconsin branch of the ACLU, a civil rights organization, also released a statement condemning the decision:
The ACLU of Wisconsin regrets District Attorney Ozanne’s decision because it leaves a cloud of uncertainty over the circumstances of and the responsibility for Tony Robinson’s death. If Officer Kenny did not violate the law, then is anyone legally responsible for Mr. Robinson’s death? Does the criminal law protect individuals like Mr. Robinson from deadly force exercised by police officers? Are police officers above the law?
Members of Robinson's family spoke at separate press conference later on Tuesday.
"I would just like everyone to keep in mind that this was a 19-year-old kid whose life was cut short before he was able to reach his potential," Turin Carter, Robinson's uncle, said at a later press conference on Tuesday.
John Lovey, the family attorney, also spoke briefly, but said they wouldn't answer questions. They'd just been handed a load of documents by the district attorney's office, and they hadn't yet had time to review the material.
"We have more questions than you do," Lovey said.