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Another black teen killed by Cleveland police as mother asks: 'Why? What happened?' Another black teen killed by Cleveland police as mother asks: 'Why? What happened?'
(about 3 hours later)
When Brandon Jones was home on Cleveland’s East Side with his mother, Tonya Brown, he would check in on her to make sure she had everything she needed. Jones was the middle child of eight kids and worked hard to make sure the people around him were happy and taken care of.When Brandon Jones was home on Cleveland’s East Side with his mother, Tonya Brown, he would check in on her to make sure she had everything she needed. Jones was the middle child of eight kids and worked hard to make sure the people around him were happy and taken care of.
So on those days when Jones was home, the days before a police officer fatally shot him less than a week before his 19th birthday, he would frequently ask if his mother was OK.So on those days when Jones was home, the days before a police officer fatally shot him less than a week before his 19th birthday, he would frequently ask if his mother was OK.
“Every 10 minutes walking by me: ‘Are you OK? You sure you’re OK?’ Brown told the Guardian. “I’m all: ‘Ya, boy, I’m fine.’”“Every 10 minutes walking by me: ‘Are you OK? You sure you’re OK?’ Brown told the Guardian. “I’m all: ‘Ya, boy, I’m fine.’”
On Thursday last week, Jones broke into the nearby Parkway Grocery and stole cigarettes and money, according to the store’s owner. Officers responded to a call of a break-in at approximately 2.15am and struggled with Jones after he left the store carrying a bag. One officer fired, striking Jones, who died at the hospital hours later.On Thursday last week, Jones broke into the nearby Parkway Grocery and stole cigarettes and money, according to the store’s owner. Officers responded to a call of a break-in at approximately 2.15am and struggled with Jones after he left the store carrying a bag. One officer fired, striking Jones, who died at the hospital hours later.
“Everybody knows he shouldn’t have been there,” Brown said. “Everybody knows what he did was wrong – we’re past that. My baby should not be dead.”“Everybody knows he shouldn’t have been there,” Brown said. “Everybody knows what he did was wrong – we’re past that. My baby should not be dead.”
The police department has provided few details about the shooting, and they did not respond to the Guardian’s request for comment.The police department has provided few details about the shooting, and they did not respond to the Guardian’s request for comment.
The officers, who have not been identified, were placed on three-day administrative leave and the department’s use of deadly force team is looking into the case. Jones’s family, meanwhile, is looking for answers.The officers, who have not been identified, were placed on three-day administrative leave and the department’s use of deadly force team is looking into the case. Jones’s family, meanwhile, is looking for answers.
“We’re living every day wondering. That’s how we’re living: wondering,” Brown said. “Why? Why, and what happened?”“We’re living every day wondering. That’s how we’re living: wondering,” Brown said. “Why? Why, and what happened?”
Cleveland is still reeling from the police killings of unarmed 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was fatally shot in November, and unarmed 37-year-old Tanisha Anderson, who died earlier that month after being physically restrained during a mental health episode.Cleveland is still reeling from the police killings of unarmed 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was fatally shot in November, and unarmed 37-year-old Tanisha Anderson, who died earlier that month after being physically restrained during a mental health episode.
Then, in December, the Justice Department released a damning investigation into the Cleveland police department that said that it had engaged in “excessive and unreasonable force” in hundreds of cases between 2010 and 2013.Then, in December, the Justice Department released a damning investigation into the Cleveland police department that said that it had engaged in “excessive and unreasonable force” in hundreds of cases between 2010 and 2013.
The report arrived amid demands for systemic change in how US police interact with minority groups, spurred by the high-profile deaths of unarmed black men Michael Brown, 19, and Eric Garner, 43. The report arrived amid demands for systemic change in how US police interact with minority groups, spurred by the high-profile deaths of unarmed black men Michael Brown, 18, and Eric Garner, 43.
Numerous activist groups in Cleveland have worked to get justice for these deaths. The message has also been a constant presence in the wake of Jones’s death – plastered at the bottom of the utility pole that serves as Jones’ makeshift memorial is a sign surrounded by candles and flowers that reads: “Black Lives Matter.” Numerous activist groups in Cleveland have worked to get justice for these deaths. The message has also been a constant presence in the wake of Jones’s death – plastered at the bottom of the utility pole that serves as Jones’s makeshift memorial is a sign surrounded by candles and flowers that reads: “Black Lives Matter.”
On Sunday, Brown went to her first Justice for Tamir Rice rally, and she has also met Tamir’s family. “They are wonderful people, wonderful people who want justice just like I do,” Brown said.On Sunday, Brown went to her first Justice for Tamir Rice rally, and she has also met Tamir’s family. “They are wonderful people, wonderful people who want justice just like I do,” Brown said.
Activists are also gathering around Jones’s family and offering support by holding vigils for the teenager, helping promote the online fundraising page to cover funeral costs and supporting his family in the grieving process, as they reflect on the loss of the young man they knew as a funny, family-oriented guy.Activists are also gathering around Jones’s family and offering support by holding vigils for the teenager, helping promote the online fundraising page to cover funeral costs and supporting his family in the grieving process, as they reflect on the loss of the young man they knew as a funny, family-oriented guy.
“Everyone knew when someone was having a bad day, Brandon would just come around and make them laugh,” Brown said. “Even when you’re not in the mood to laugh.”“Everyone knew when someone was having a bad day, Brandon would just come around and make them laugh,” Brown said. “Even when you’re not in the mood to laugh.”
Whether it was helping his dad with construction work, or making sure the family had the means to pay the bills or put food on the table, Jones was always focused on protecting his family.Whether it was helping his dad with construction work, or making sure the family had the means to pay the bills or put food on the table, Jones was always focused on protecting his family.
He had seven siblings, and made sure his younger sisters were taken care of. “He was kind of tough on them about staying in school, not messing with young boys,” Brown said.He had seven siblings, and made sure his younger sisters were taken care of. “He was kind of tough on them about staying in school, not messing with young boys,” Brown said.
She said the cycle of unarmed people being killed by police needed to stop, and that justice could only be achieved if police were held accountable for what they had done.She said the cycle of unarmed people being killed by police needed to stop, and that justice could only be achieved if police were held accountable for what they had done.
“They’re just killing these little boys, these young men, when they don’t have to,” Brown said. “And at the end of the day, our family members are gone, and they [the police] are back at work – the same job, committing the same crime to another family, to another young man, to another young boy.”“They’re just killing these little boys, these young men, when they don’t have to,” Brown said. “And at the end of the day, our family members are gone, and they [the police] are back at work – the same job, committing the same crime to another family, to another young man, to another young boy.”
Brown has many questions for the police department, which she said she has barely talked to since the day they told her that her son was dead. She said the only other interaction she has had with them is when a detective came by on Sunday, but he had been off for the days preceding the visit and knew less about the situation than the family did.Brown has many questions for the police department, which she said she has barely talked to since the day they told her that her son was dead. She said the only other interaction she has had with them is when a detective came by on Sunday, but he had been off for the days preceding the visit and knew less about the situation than the family did.
Her understanding of the moments leading up to her son’s death is primarily sourced from the media. And with the police keeping quiet, she is still desperate for answers from the police.Her understanding of the moments leading up to her son’s death is primarily sourced from the media. And with the police keeping quiet, she is still desperate for answers from the police.
“At that moment, he didn’t know who you [the police] were, what was going on, you just waited for my son to come out, charged at him, caught him off guard, you tussled a little bit and then you shoot him,” Brown said. “I just don’t understand that.”“At that moment, he didn’t know who you [the police] were, what was going on, you just waited for my son to come out, charged at him, caught him off guard, you tussled a little bit and then you shoot him,” Brown said. “I just don’t understand that.”
The last time Brown saw her son, he was alive. The funeral director told her that her son’s body probably won’t be ready until Thursday, at the public viewing. The funeral is on Friday.The last time Brown saw her son, he was alive. The funeral director told her that her son’s body probably won’t be ready until Thursday, at the public viewing. The funeral is on Friday.
A couple of years ago, around when Jones turned 16, he got involved “with the wrong crowd,” his mother told Cleveland.com. His life became more dangerous after that, and he was shot twice in the past year – three times in his leg and once in the head, a few months ago. A couple of years ago, around when Jones turned 16, he got involved “with the wrong crowd”, his mother told Cleveland.com. His life became more dangerous after that, and he was shot twice in the past year – three times in his leg and once in the head, a few months ago.
He stayed at home more after the second shooting and was trying to get away from the rough lifestyle he had got into. “One day he just cried on my shoulder and said: ‘Ma, they’re trying to kill me,’” Brown said.He stayed at home more after the second shooting and was trying to get away from the rough lifestyle he had got into. “One day he just cried on my shoulder and said: ‘Ma, they’re trying to kill me,’” Brown said.
His dad, who works for several property owners, had plans to buy a lawnmower so Jones could help do maintenance work on those properties. Then, his son would be independent, have some money in his pocket and stay off the streets.His dad, who works for several property owners, had plans to buy a lawnmower so Jones could help do maintenance work on those properties. Then, his son would be independent, have some money in his pocket and stay off the streets.
“Why he went to the store … who knows what he was thinking,” his mom said. “But I can tell you on his heart, that lifestyle, he didn’t want any more of it after being shot like that. He really did kind of fear for his life, he didn’t trust anybody anymore.”“Why he went to the store … who knows what he was thinking,” his mom said. “But I can tell you on his heart, that lifestyle, he didn’t want any more of it after being shot like that. He really did kind of fear for his life, he didn’t trust anybody anymore.”