MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A U.S.
attorney in Tennessee announced Monday (Dec. 14) that federal prosecutors were
reviewing a white Memphis police officer's fatal shooting of a black teenager.
The family of
19-year-old Darrius Stewart had asked federal prosecutors to step in after a
local grand jury declined to indict Officer Connor Schilling on charges of
voluntary manslaughter and use of a weapon during the commission of a dangerous
felony.
Stewart was a passenger
in a car stopped by the officer for a headlight violation on July 17. According
to police, the officer ran Stewart's identification and found the teen had
outstanding warrants from Illinois and Iowa. Schilling put Stewart in the back
of his squad car as he checked on the warrants. After dispatchers said Stewart
should be arrested, Schilling went to handcuff Stewart.
According to police,
Stewart kicked open the door, grabbed the handcuffs and starting beating
Schilling with them. As they fought on the ground, Schilling fired his service
weapon, wounding Stewart. The teen died at a hospital of two gunshot wounds, a
medical examiner found.
Although the case has
not received as much national attention as some other police shootings around
the country, it has prompted peaceful rallies and vigils, with activists
demanding Schilling resign or be fired. And Hillary Clinton met with Stewart's
family last month during a trip to Memphis, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has said.
At a news conference
Monday, U.S. Attorney Edward Stanton III said the Department of Justice has
been conducting an "independent, comprehensive and careful review" of
the evidence in the case. The review is being done by the U.S. attorney's
office, the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the FBI. Stanton
declined to answer any questions about the review.
Schilling's attorney,
Art Quinn, has previously said he does not fear a federal investigation because
his client did nothing wrong. He did not immediately return a call on Monday.
Schilling has been
relieved of duty with pay. He faces an administrative hearing to determine his
future with the department.
Attorney Carlos Moore,
who represents Stewart's father, Henry Williams, said he was pleased with
Stanton's announcement.
Moore said he recently
received a letter from the Justice Department asking for the names of
witnesses. Asked about Stanton's use of the word "review," rather
than "investigation, Moore said, "No matter what word you use, they
are interviewing witnesses and following up on leads."
The announcement comes
one day before the expected court-ordered release of the Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation's files in the shooting. Those files normally are closed but
District Attorney General Amy Weirich asked for their release after the grand
jury declined to indict Schilling.
By The Associated Press
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