The Wisconsin police officer who shot and killed a 19-year-old unarmed biracial man won’t face criminal charges in the case.
“I conclude that this tragic and unfortunate death was the result of a lawful use of deadly police force and that no charges should be brought against Officer Kenny in the death of Tony Robinson Jr.,” Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said Tuesday.
Robinson was fatally shot by Officer Matt Kenny, who is white, in Madison, Wisconsin, on March 6, setting off days of protests in the city.
I noted this case in the Corner a few days after it happened. The summary of events is as follows:
On Friday night [March 6], Madison police officer Matt Kenny responded to reports that Anthony “Tony” Robinson, a 19-year-old black man, was running in and out of traffic. A second call reported that Robinson had been involved in an assault that same evening. Kenny pursued Robinson to a nearby apartment, where he heard sounds of a disturbance inside. When Kenny forced his way in, Robinson attacked him, striking him over the head and knocking him to the ground. Kenny fired his weapon, killing Robinson.
For details, see Andrew Branca’s second-by-second account over at Legal Insurrection.
Based on the available evidence, the district attorney’s decision would seem to be the correct one. Not that that will matter to the protesters.