A 19-year-old unarmed man is dead following a Friday altercation with a police officer in Madison, Wisc. A Facebook group identified the victim as Anthony Robinson, who was reportedly shot five times in the chest. This after Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said authorities responded to reports that a man was “walking in traffic and hitting pedestrians.”
The victim was followed to an apartment by an officer who forced entry.
“Once inside the home, the subject involved in this incident, the same one that had been allegedly out in traffic and had battered someone, the same subject then assaulted my officer and in the context of mutual combat in that sense the officer did draw his revolver and subsequently shot the subject,” Koval said.
The officer then administered CPR. The victim was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The incident spurned immediate protests in Madison, and on social media where #AnthonyRobinson is a rising hashtag. The Badger Herald‘s news editor Rachel Lallensack livetweeted the protests.
@ least 100 down here on #WillySt Chanting "no justice no peace" pic.twitter.com/FgpJqqskeY
— Kristen Barbaresi (@KristenBarbar) March 7, 2015
"We have nothing to lose but our chains" pic.twitter.com/kZxs0Ze8cK
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
.@BadgerHerald Crowd chanting, "No justice no peace." pic.twitter.com/xG2JeYwmzw
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
More than 20 officers at corner of Willy St and Few St. @BadgerHerald #WillyStreet pic.twitter.com/y5e6GBrar2
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
Crowd estimate on Willy St is more than 100. @BadgerHerald #WillyStreet pic.twitter.com/TilYjQOJ89
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
"Who can you trust?" #blacklivesmatter @BadgerHerald pic.twitter.com/JlaOIJdSqr
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
Mother was not allowed to see son at hospital, protesters say. @BadgerHerald
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
.@BadgerHerald Friend of victim said "He was always the happiest. If any of his friends were down, he'd cheer them up."
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
Friend of victim Samantha Sorum, 16, Madison said, "He was going places. He was my best friend." @SammieSorum sammiesorum
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
Woman who used to babysit victim as a child unites crowd in prayer. @BadgerHerald #WillyStreet pic.twitter.com/PVpGdc2J8R
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
Man shares story about victim, "He was a gentle soul." @BadgerHerald #WillyStreet pic.twitter.com/ECMZMRiqw8
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
Aunt says his mother was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Robinson took care of her all the way. @BadgerHerald #WillyStreet
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
Victim's aunt says she is pregnant and will name her child after the victim. @BadgerHerald #WillyStreet pic.twitter.com/dYQaj6ZPVo
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
Victim's aunt speaks to crowd: "He stood 6'5 and wouldn't hurt a fly." @BadgerHerald #WillyStreet pic.twitter.com/dIT2crf3MN
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
"His mother needed him." @BadgerHerald #WillyStreet pic.twitter.com/xeSa5mpv1g
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
"The next time his mother will see him he'll be in a casket," aunt of victim said. @BadgerHerald #WillyStreet pic.twitter.com/ctOdiwu5GS
— Rachael Lallensack (@rlallensack) March 7, 2015
The protests were reportedly organized by the Young, Gifted, and Black coalition.
Tonight, an unnamed 19 year old was killed by police in Madison, Wisconsin.
— deray (@deray) March 7, 2015
Unarmed #AnthonyRobinson (aged 19), known by friends as Tony, was killed by Madison, Wisconsin tonight. pic.twitter.com/GOJcilKOXg
— deray (@deray) March 7, 2015
https://twitter.com/BergisJules/status/574075287761190912
Madison mayor Paul Soglin arrived at the scene and called the incident “an enormous tragedy.”
Screengrab via News 3