Tafara Williams, the surviving victim of a police shooting in Waukegan, Illinois, has recounted the harrowing events of October 20, 2020, accusing officers of leaving her boyfriend, Marcellis Stinnette, to die after he was shot. Speaking from her hospital bed via Zoom on Tuesday, October 27, Williams painted a starkly different picture of the incident than the initial police narrative.
Williams, a 20-year-old Black woman, described how she and Stinnette, 19, were sitting in her car outside her home, smoking a cigarette. She explained she was avoiding smoking near their young child. According to Williams, a white police officer approached and began questioning her, claiming to recognize Stinnette from a previous encounter.
Williams claims that both she and Stinnette raised their hands to demonstrate they were unarmed before she slowly drove away. While the first officer did not pursue them, Williams believes another officer was “waiting for us.” Moments later, gunfire erupted.
“There was a crash and I lost control,” Williams stated. “The officer was shooting at us. The car ended up slamming into a building. I kept screaming, ‘I don’t have a gun!’ But they kept shooting. He told me to get out of the car. I had my hands up, and I couldn’t move because I had been shot.”
Williams recounted hearing Stinnette breathing and pleading with officers to take him to the hospital first, citing his recent surgery. However, she alleges her pleas were ignored. “They laid Marcellis on the ground and covered him with a blanket while he was still breathing,” she said. “I know he was still alive and they took that away from me.”
The attorneys representing Williams and Stinnette’s family contend that racial profiling motivated the initial stop. Antonio Romanucci, one of the attorneys, stated, “He profiled these people because of the color of their skin. That was their crime.”
This account sharply contradicts the official police version of events. Police claim the car, driven by Williams, fled an initial traffic stop. A second officer, identified as Hispanic, reportedly approached the vehicle and fired in self-defense when it reversed towards him. No weapon was found in the car.
The officer involved in the shooting has been fired, and the city’s mayor has pledged to release dashcam and bodycam footage after the families have viewed it. The footage is crucial evidence, as Williams’ mother, Clifftina Johnson, has corroborated her daughter’s account, stating that Williams told her they did nothing to provoke the officer.
The incident has sparked peaceful protests in Waukegan, with community leaders urging calm and respect for the ongoing investigation. The city has avoided the unrest seen in nearby Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Despite the mayor’s promise of transparency, Romanucci has confirmed a lawsuit will be filed. He emphasizes the need for policy changes to prevent future tragedies. “Without that, we can’t make the permanent changes that we require in this country and in this community,” he stated. “We want policy changes.”
This case raises critical questions about police conduct, racial profiling, and the use of deadly force. The release of the video footage and the subsequent legal proceedings will be pivotal in determining the truth behind the tragic death of Marcellis Stinnette and the wounding of Tafara Williams. This incident underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform within law enforcement to ensure justice and prevent similar tragedies from occurring.
The investigation continues, and the nation awaits the release of the video footage that could shed further light on the events of that fatal night in Waukegan. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for police procedures and community relations, particularly regarding the issue of racial profiling and the use of force. The demands for justice and policy change echo across the country, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality and accountability within the criminal justice system. The story of Tafara Williams and Marcellis Stinnette serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of these systemic issues. As the legal process unfolds, the hope remains that truth and justice will prevail, paving the way for meaningful and lasting change.
This incident continues to raise questions about police training, de-escalation techniques, and the disproportionate impact of police violence on communities of color. The call for transparency and accountability resonates deeply within the community and beyond, demanding answers and demanding change. As the legal battle begins, the families of the victims, along with their legal team, are determined to seek justice and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
