Madison's mayor says he's pleased demonstrations over officer-involved shooting remain peaceful

MADISON (WITI/AP) — Madison's mayor says he's pleased demonstrations over the officer-involved shooting of 19-year-old Tony Robinson have remained peaceful.

Mayor Paul Soglin said during a news conference Tuesday, March 10th that he's heard Madison being compared to other cities where similar incidents have taken place — a veiled reference to Ferguson, Missouri, where riots ensued after Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown.

Mayor Soglin says Madison's city government is trying to help minorities -- pointing out the city is part of Cities United, an effort by municipalities to eliminate violent deaths of African-American men, and My Brother's Keeper, a public-private partnership President Barack Obama launched to improve the lives of young minority men.

Tony Robinson was bi-racial.

"This has been very trying on all of us in the city of Madison. I think it's critical that we not prejudge what may come from the investigation and the report," Mayor Soglin said.

Officer Matt Kenny shot Robinson on Friday, March 6th in a Madison apartment house on Williamson Street. A growing tribute to Robinson now sits in front of that home.

The incident started when authorities got a call that a male was yelling and jumping in front of cars, Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said.

A little later, the dispatcher says, “Apparently Tony hit one of his friends. No weapons seen.”Dispatchers identified him as Tony Robinson, according to 911 audio obtained by WKOW.

About four minutes later, the dispatcher says, “I got another call for the same suspect at . He tried to strangle another patron.”

About 30 seconds later, an unidentified officer says, “Shots fired, shots fired.”

When Officer Matt Kenny went to the apartment, he heard some commotion and forced his way in, Koval said.

“Once inside the home the subject involved in this incident — the same one allegedly out in traffic and that had battered someone — assaulted my officer,” Koval said.

Koval says Robinson attacked Officer Kenny.

After that, according to the chief, “The officer did draw his revolver and subsequently shot the subject.”

Robinson did have a criminal history. Wisconsin Circuit Court documents indicate Robinson pleaded guilty in December to an armed robbery that occurred last April.

The deadly confrontation has made Madison the latest epicenter of protests. Tuesday marked the fifth straight day of demonstrations. Following weekend protests, demonstrators rallied at the Capitol on Monday morning. A Department of Administration spokesman tells FOX6 News there were 1,500 people present at the Capitol rally. Meanwhile, students staged a walkout at the city’s East High School after classes. A vigil was held in Robinson’s honor in Madison on Sunday.

Folks with the Young, Gifted and Black organization rallied Tuesday before a Dane County Public Protection & Judiciary Committee meeting discussing the jail. They then shared their concerns with that committee.

"It's been very, very tragic. Very sad," a demonstrator said.

Emotions ran high as folks expressed their concerns over the officer-involved shooting of Tony Robinson.

"People are very angry. People are very hurt," a demonstrator said.

More demonstrations are planned for Wednesday, March 11th on a "National Day of Action" in Madison. Families are expected to converge on Madison to demand fully-funded public schools, a living wage for every Wisconsin worker, and systemic change so that communities of color can live free of mass incarceration and violence against minorities involving police officers. This will also be a demonstration against Governor Scott Walker's proposed budget.

Twenty-eight states are expected to take part in "National Day of Action" events.

Members of Wisconsin Jobs Now, Young, Gifted, and Black, Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES), Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), 9to5 Wisconsin, Concerned Citizens of Wausau, SEIU Local 1, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, Ferguson to Madison, AFSCME DC-48, United Wisconsin, the African-American Roundtable, the International Socialist Organization and the Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA) are expected to take part in "National Day of Action" events in Madison Wednesday.

The Coalition for Justice, which has organized demonstrations in support of Dontre Hamilton and his family in Milwaukee is also expected to attend. 31-year-old Hamilton was shot and killed by former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney in Red Arrow Park in Milwaukee in April 2014.

"We'll be rallying the people and marching. What we hope to do is raise awareness -- continue to raise awareness about state violence and what it looks like," community organizer Eric Upchurch said.

Also Wednesday, a demonstration is planned in support of the Madison Police Department and Madison Police Officer Matt Kenny. That demonstration is planned for 5:00 p.m. at the Law Enforcement Memorial on North Pinckney Street in Madison.

A fellow officer posted the following message on Facebook in support of Officer Matt Kenny:

The Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation in this case. It will present its report to the Dane County District Attorney's Office for review.

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