October 12, 2004 - Minneapolis police have started an internal investigation into allegations of police brutality stemming from a scuffle Friday night. Second Precinct Inspector Maderia Arradondo says the investigation will look into whether officer Alan Williams used excessive force when he shoved Dana Canty during a disturbance call. Canty checked into a hospital Saturday night with head injuries.
October 25, 2004 - Police-community relations in Minneapolis are once again being strained after the shooting death of a black teenager by a police officer this weekend. According to police accounts, 15-year-old Courtney Williams pointed a gun at a police officer before the officer shot and killed him. The weapon police found near Williams was a pellet gun. Family members of the dead teenager and some of his friends who were with him that night are critical of the police officer's decision to use lethal force. Police officials are investigating the shooting and are asking for community members to remain calm.
October 25, 2004 - Members of a group formed to improve relations between the Minneapolis police department and communities of color have questions about the police shooting of a black teenager this weekend. The shooting happened early Sunday morning in north Minneapolis . Police accounts say a 15-year-old boy, identified by family members as Courtney Williams, refused an officer's orders to drop a gun, turned and then was hit by two bullets from the officer's gun. Police recovered a pellet gun at the scene which they say resembles a .45 calliber handgun. The Rev. Ian Bethel is the co-chair of the Police Community Relations Council. He says there are discrepancies between police accounts and what the boy's friends are saying.
October 27, 2004 - Family and friends of a teenager shot and killed by a police officer last weekend will attend a memorial service tonight at a North Minneapolis church. Police officials say 15-year-old Courtney Williams was carrying a gun after Midnight early Sunday morning. He was shot twice by an officer. A pellet gun was found at the scene. Williams' mother says she doesn't believe her son was carrying a gun. V.J. Smith is with MAD DADS, an anti-violence activist group that helped organize the service.
October 28, 2004 - Minneapolis police chief William McManus met with African American community leaders today to discuss the progress of the investigation into the shooting death of a black teenager last weekend. Fifteen year old Courtney Williams was shot and killed by officer Scott Mars. Police say Williams held a pellet gun that resembled a real gun. McManus has worked closely with the group of leaders who are members of the Police Community Relations council during the investigation. Sgt. Medeira Arrodondo says the chief's strategy is to keep an open flow of information between the police and community.
October 28, 2004 - Minneapolis police and members of a community relations group are cooperating in the investigation of the shooting death of a Minneapolis teenager by a police officer. However, the two continue to offer different accounts of what happened. Police say 15-year-old Courtney Williams held a pellet gun that resembled a real gun and refused to drop it when commanded to do so by a police officer. They say Williams stopped and turned toward the officer with the gun when the officer fired two shots. But members of the council say another boy possessed the pellet gun and threw it on the ground as he ran from police officers. Despite the different accounts, community group member Spike Moss says the relationship between his group and the department is sound.
October 28, 2004 - The Minneapolis police and a community relations group are working in cooperation in the investigation of the shooting death of a teenager by a police officer last weekend. Members of the community group have openly praised the police department for sharing details surrounding the shooting death of a black teenager.Police officials credit the civilian group members with preventing an angry backlash from the community. However, following a meeting with the police chief today, several prominent members of the community group announced a very different version of the shooting than the police.
October 28, 2004 - A memorial service was held Wednesday evening in a north Minneapolis church for Courtney Williams. Williams was shot and killed last weekend by a Minneapolis police officer. Police say the 15-year-old was carrying a pellet gun that looked like a .45 caliber handgun. But family members say they don't believe the police accounts. Cousin Andre Gray says Williams was a good kid.
October 28, 2004 - Family and friends held a memorial service last night for a teenager who was shot and killed last weekend by a Minneapolis police officer. Police say 15-year-old Courtney Williams was carrying a pellet gun which resembled a handgun. Family members maintain Williams didn't have a gun and didn't like guns. Andre Gray is Williams' cousin. He says the family is more concerned with healing than with the police investigation.
October 29, 2004 - Minneapolis police and members of a community relations group are cooperating in the investigation of the shooting death of a Minneapolis teenager by a police officer. However, the two continue to offer different accounts of what happened. Police say 15-year-old Courtney Williams held a pellet gun that resembled a real gun and refused to drop it when commanded to do so by a police officer. They say Williams stopped and turned toward the officer with the gun when the officer fired two shots. But members of the council say another boy possessed the pellet gun and threw it on the ground as he ran from police officers. Despite the different accounts, community group member Spike Moss says the relationship between his group and the department is sound.