Protests erupted in Wisconsin’s capital overnight after a police officer fatally shot an African-American teen who authorities say attacked an officer.
The 19-year-old suspect assaulted the officer responding to a scene at an apartment in Madison on Friday evening, said Mike Koval, the city’s police chief.
Shortly after, protesters took to the streets chanting “black lives matter” and “who do we trust, no one!” The crowds later dispersed.
Call to authorities
The incident started when authorities got a call that a man suspected in a recent battery had gone to an apartment, Koval said.
Shortly before that call, another one had come in, saying the same suspect was “jumping in and out of traffic, dodging cars,” according to Koval.
When a responding officer went to the apartment, he heard some commotion and forced his way in, he said.
“Once inside the home the subject involved in this incident — the same one allegedly out in traffic and that had battered someone — assaulted my officer,” Koval said. “…The officer did draw his revolver and subsequently shot the subject.”
Other officers arrive
Backup officers and others at the scene performed CPR on the suspect, who later died at the hospital.
The officer suffered a blow to the head, but is undergoing treatment and will be released, Koval said.
It’s unclear whether the suspect had a weapon, according to the police chief.
“In light of so much things that have happened not just across the country, but in our own community, it’s understandable that the reaction at the scene and of some of our citizens is extremely volatile, emotional and upsetting,” Koval told CNN affiliate WKOW.
“And we understand that. That’s absolutely appropriate under these circumstances. We would urge, obviously, that everyone exercise restraint.”
Under Wisconsin law, officer-involved shootings are investigated by an outside agency, in this case the Division of Criminal Investigation.
