Mourners pack funeral for biracial man shot by police

Associated Press

MADISON, Wis.

Friends and family remembered a 19-year-old biracial Wisconsin man fatally shot by police as a friendly, funny person who liked to play basketball, and said Saturday they hoped his death would bring change that might prevent other young men of color from suffering the same fate.

Tony Robinson, also known as Terrell, died March 6 after what Madison police said was a confrontation in which he assaulted the officer. A preliminary autopsy showed Robinson was shot in his head, torso and right arm. The autopsy did not say if he was facing or turned away from the white policeman, who was identified as 45-year-old force veteran Matt Kenny.

Robinson’s death was the latest in a string of shootings by police nationwide that heightened racial tensions.

At least 1,000 people packed a Wisconsin high- school field house and spilled into a secondary gym Saturday for Robinson’s funeral, where family requested no outward signs of protest. A few mourners wore T-shirts saying “Black Lives Matter.” People who brought signs to the funeral were told politely to put them away.

“It’s up to us to support Terrell’s vision of immortality ... through our commitment to ensure that another senseless and violent murder like this doesn’t happen,” said Rev. David Hart, who led the memorial.