Community Groups Question Kaiyewu Shooting

A coalition of groups in Champaign-Urbana's minority community says the police shooting death of Toto Kaiyewu raises questions about officer procedure when several departments investigate a suspect.

The African-American medical student from Texas was killed on April 6th following a police chase that ended on Interstate 74 near Oakwood. Officers from the Champaign County Sheriff's Department, Vermilion County, and the University of Illinois fired at Kaiyewu after they say he came at them with a machete. Aaron Ammons with CU Citizens for Peace and Justice is among those who question the initial distress call by a Villa Grove police officer. He says that heightened the intensity of the police chase that preceded the shooting, and such actions haven't seen an appropriate follow-up:

"Since Mr. Kaiyewu has been analyzed and scrutinized from every angle, we believe that it is fair and impartial that each officer involved receive the same treatment,' says Ammons. "We think that is the type of accountability and transparency that is necessary to maintain the public trust in our police departments. We don't think that's unreasonable to ask," This week, a Vermilion County Coroner's jury called the shooting of Kaiyewu a justifiable homicide. An extensive report by state police reveals that he suffered from mental illness. But Tracy Parsons of Urbana says the medical records don't justify the crime, citing 'inconsistencies' in the reports from the officers interviewed.

The groups say they plan a July public viewing of the police videotape of Kaiyewu's actions on the night of his death.