Cleveland Police shooting of 6 year old boy sounding more like a cover-up. : Cleveland IMC (((i)))

Six year old Trevon Williams was shot Tuesday, June 19th, around 10 p.m. by a Cleveland Police officer.

Police claim that an officer was involved in a struggle with a suspected drug dealer when the officers gun accidently went off and shot the boy across the street.

Eye witnesses who live in the neighboorhood say that the officer was ten feet away and intentionally or not, pulled his gun out and fired in the direction of the suspect.

The police story is getting very weak for a number of reasons. First, the gun used by Cleveland police is one of the safest guns available for standard issue. It requires twelve to fourteen pounds of pressure to the trigger to make it fire. In other words, it doesn't "accidently" go off, it needs to be intentionally fired. These facts were given by Terry Gilbert a well respected area lawyer who frequently handles police abuse related cases.

Mr. Gilbert spoke at a press confrence held by local activists (from black on black 2000, October 22nd coaliton, and the Carl Stokes Brigade). It was also said that the Police official who put fort the struggle idea is merely a pawn for the department. Bob Beck claims that gunpowder residue was found on the suspect. Said one man at the press confrence: "The police may not always be right, but with Bob Beck they are never wrong."

According to witnesses the suspect was haveing trouble running and slowed down by a bush. The bush is on the south side of Ridpath (which dead-ends heading west into 149th ST.). The officer was reportedly standing near the street between the sidewalk and curb. This would have him facing the suspect a little south of the intersection.

One witness claimed that the officer aimed his gun at the man he was chasing, and then intentionally pulled off to the side where he fired. Some people wondered if this was intended as a warning shot (which are usually fired in the air).

The bullet struck Trevon Williams while he was somewhere in the intersection, to the north a little. In other words, if the officer panicked, decided not to shoot the suspect, and jerked his hand away, his shot would have gone in Trevon's direction.

What is also disturbing about the official police story is that they claim the bullet grazed the suspect and hit the boy. If the officer was ten feet away and fired at the suspect, the bullet would have to ricochet at least twenty degrees to hit Trevon (and most likely much more). This is not hardly possible, ever. Furthermore, how could a police officer trained in handguns, miss a target suspect ten feet away?

What is most likely is the witnesses version of the story, they have nothing to protect (like the image of the CPD), and nothing to gain (like "avoiding another cincinatti" as the mayor requested the people to do).

Trevon was rushed to Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital where he was opperated on twice and last listed in critical though stable condition.

The two suspects have not yet been charged with a crime. No drugs or guns were found.

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Cleveland Indy Media Center