Mayor: Video will be released in Black motorists' shooting

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) - Police videos showing a suburban Chicago police officer fatally shooting a Black man and wounding a Black woman are expected to be released once relatives have seen the footage, the city's mayor has said.

Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said during a Sunday prayer vigil for Marcellis Stinnette, 19, who died in the shooting last Tuesday, that the city intends to publicly release the bodycam and dashcam videos, but only after Stinnette's family has seen them.

'œLet's be clear: This situation requires their approval before we move on,'ť Cunningham said.

He also urged the public to let justice take its course in the case and asked the community to 'œrespect the process.'ť On Friday, the police department fired the officer who shot the couple.

Activists and relatives of Stinnette and Tafara Williams, 20 - who was wounded in the shooting and remains hospitalized - have demanded the release of the police video, which authorities say has been turned over to investigators. On Saturday, Williams spoke from her hospital bed to a crowd at a rally in Waukegan, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of Chicago, saying she 'œwon't sleep until Marcellis gets justice.'ť The couple were dating and had a child together.

Activist Chris Blanks said last week that the video is particularly important because the police version of events and the version Williams' mother has shared appear to contradict each other. Clifftina Johnson has said her daughter told her that she and Stinnette did nothing to provoke the officer.

Waukegan police have said Williams was driving and Stinnette was a passenger in a vehicle that fled a traffic stop conducted by a white officer late Tuesday and that the vehicle was later spotted by another officer, who is Hispanic. Police said that as the second officer approached, the vehicle started moving in reverse and the officer - fearing for his safety - opened fire. No weapon was found in the vehicle.

The officer who shot the couple was fired late Friday by Waukegan Police Chief Wayne Walles. He said in a brief statement that the male officer, a five-year department veteran, had committed 'œmultiple policy and procedure violations.'ť

Walles offered his condolences to Stinnette and Williams' families during Sunday's vigil, which attracted a large crowd, the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reported.

'œThere is power in prayer, and the more of us that are together and praying, and praying for each other and everybody involved in this terrible incident, will help us heal and move forward,'ť he said.

Williams' sister, Sasha Williams, said at Sunday's vigil that her sister is working to recover her strength so she can return to caring for her children.

'œWe shouldn't have to say, '~Don't shoot us,''ť Williams said. 'œWe shouldn't have to come outside and fear for our lives. We shouldn't be afraid of the police.'ť

Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim also attended Sunday's vigil. He said Friday that he had asked the U.S. Justice Department to review the circumstances surrounding the shooting, and said the federal agency had agreed to do so. He has urged calm while the investigation takes place and pledged transparency.