City council hears questions over recent police shootings
The family members of three people who were killed during confrontations with Wichita police officers took their concerns and questions to the city council on Tuesday.
Tyra Williams is the daughter of 45-year-old Karen Jackson, who was killed by two officers in July. Williams said her mother was shot within six seconds after being approached by officers. She said "all we want is answers."
Police said that Jackson had lunged at them with a knife during a domestic disturbance in the 700 block of North Spruce.
Randal Smart is the father of Marquez Smart, who was shot in March in a confrontation with police in Old Town. He said his son was shot in the back while running away from police. He said Marquez did not have a record and had not been in any trouble.
Police said Marquez had fired two shots into a crowd. Randal Smart said his family wants the truth and the facts, and he called for a grand jury investigation.
Shakeitha Scales said her son, Timothy Collins, was shot by police in April. Collins, 17, was a cousin of Marquez Smart. She said her son was trying to get out of a house and surrender when he was shot.
Police said the shooting happened during a home robbery reported in the 1200 block of West Crawford.
Michael Shatz of Haysville, a member of the group Occupy Wichita, called for more openness and transparency in the police department. He said the police department shouldn't be judged by its mistakes, but by how it responds to those mistakes. Shatz said there is a culture of silence that fails to provide information to families and the public about these incidents.
Mayor Carl Brewer urged the family members to talk with the Sedgwick County district attorney's office, which continues to investigate the shooting incidents.
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