The father of a mentally disturbed man shot and killed by Chicago police officers last weekend broke down on live television on Tuesday.
Antonio LeGrier called the police on his son, Quintonio, for threatening him with a baseball bat. When officers arrived, they “accidentally” shot and killed Quintonio, 19, and the LeGriers’ downstairs neighbor, Bettie Jones, 55.
“My only son is gone and I don’t know what to do,” LeGrier told CNN's Brooke Baldwin, fighting back tears. “Tell me what to do.”
The shooting came a month after dashcam video was released of Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke firing 16 shots into Laquan McDonald in 2014 and weeks after the Department of Justice opened an investigation into the police department, especially its use of force.
“No one expected the Chicago police department to just start shooting into a doorway where a young man may or may not have had a weapon when the door opened,” LeGrier said. “Maybe it was an inexperienced officer who wasn’t trained on how to respond to these situations. I’m not sure what it is. All I know is right now two innocent people are dead because an officer made a decision that was not the right one.”
LeGrier then grew angry.
“No one can just walk away and sweep it under the rug because my son’s life will not be in vain. I need the nation to know that I, father of Quintonio LeGrier, raised a good son that went to school, had good grades, and had a beautiful future in front of him that was snuffed out by inexperienced officers.”
Then he broke down.
“I’m the father. I’m a victim. My son is a victim of someone that made a mistake,’ LeGrier said, his voice a squeal as he fought tears. “I want to be the first one to say I am now his voice. I am his voice. I’m all he got to tell his story.... I never once thought once he entered that staircase that his life would be ended by someone who didn’t know what to do.’
LeGrier’s attorney interrupted: “Brooke, I think Antonio has had enough.”
“I appreciate your voice,” Baldwin replied. “There are no words. Just I’m sorry.”