Woman Shot By Officer Says Waukegan Police Let Her Boyfriend Die

WAUKEGAN, IL — A woman who survived a fatal police shooting in Waukegan last week said one officer harassed her and her boyfriend before another shot them both.

Tafara Williams, 20, spoke from her hospital bed Tuesday, describing the incident a week after she and her boyfriend, Marcellis Stinnette, 19, were shot by Waukegan police in a car she was driving.

"They laid Marcellis on the ground and covered him up with a blanket while he was still breathing. I know he was still alive," she said. "They took me away and allowed him to die. They wanted us to bleed out on the ground."

The night of the shooting, Williams said the first officer showed up as she smoked outside her house after putting her children to bed. The officer, who is white, said he recognized them and began questioning her and Stinnette, who are both Black, with his hand on his gun.

"I asked him if we were free to leave, I asked him if we were under arrest," she said. "The officer took a few steps away from the car and got on his cell phone."

Williams said she drove away, frightened by the meeting. The officer did not follow or conduct a traffic stop, she said.

"It seemed like there was another officer there waiting for us. There was a crash and I lost control. The officer was shooting at us, the car ended up slamming into a building," she said. "I kept screaming, 'I don't have a gun,' but he kept shooting."

One officer was fired Friday. No charges have yet been filed in connection with the incident. The Illinois State Police are leading an investigation into the shooting with assistance from the FBI. The results of that investigation will be turned over to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, officials said.

RELATED: FBI Investigating Fatal Waukegan Police Shooting, Officer Fired

According to the initial Waukegan police department statement — later repeated verbatim by Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper — the vehicle "fled" from the first officer.

At some point, the car reversed and the second officer was "in fear for his safety" when he opened fire an unspecified number of times, according to the version of events provided by police and the coroner's office. Cooper has declined to say how many times Stinnette was shot, citing the ongoing investigation.

RELATED: Coroner Identifies Teen Fatally Shot By Waukegan Police

Williams' parents were among those who appeared at a news conference Tuesday in Waukegan held by the plaintiff's attorneys Ben Crump and Tony Romanucci, who also represented the families of George Floyd and Javier Ambler following their deaths at the hands of police.

"When does it end, America?" Crump said. "How many more Black people have to be killed because of police brutality, excessive force, implicit bias, systematic racism, deliberate indifference. How many more times, America? How many more times do we have to tell our children that this isn't right?"

Tina Johnson said her daughter Tafara was the strongest person she has ever met. She said her daughter and Stinnette were good parents.

"He was a gentle soul, and I can still see the smile upon his face. I'm here demanding justice, to hold these officers accountable for what they did to Marcellis and Tafara," she said. "This happened to my child and her boyfriend this time. But if America doesn't stop this disease of violence, this could be anyone's child."

Williams' father, Trevor, said what happened to his daughter and her boyfriend should never have happened. He called on the Justice Department to help.

"Today for us, tomorrow for you," he said. "I'm asking the federal government to please make this speedy so we can have some rest, because I can't sleep at night. And I'm getting very angry and I'm trying to hold my anger as best I can."

Romanucci said Williams and Stinnette were profiled by police for nothing more than their skin color. He said a coming lawsuit would seek both monetary damages and policy changes.

"We want to make this city, Waukegan, right now the example of accountability and transparency in policing. What Waukegan has done will give this family a sense of peace. It will not restore what has happened," Romanucci said.

Waukegan city officials have said they plan to release body camera footage of the incident to the family later this week.

Eshaunte Williams, Tafara's older brother, said he travelled from Houston after learning of the shooting. He said his nephew now has to grow up without a father.

"Too many people know what that feels like, and they shouldn't have to go through that. They shouldn't have to go through that at all," he said. "Please make sure you go to your communities, you stand up and make sure this is the last time someone has to go through this."

Latoya Johnson, Tafara's aunt, questioned whether the Waukegan Police Department would have acted as fast to fire the officer who fired the fatal shots had he been white. According to the department, the officer is Hispanic.

Johnson also said her family was close with the family of Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham.

"We are a good family, and Mayor Cunningham needs to do right by us," Johnson said. "And one Latino officer will not be enough, OK?"

VIDEO: Watch full Oct. 27 press conference