25 years since teen was shot by St. Pete police

Reposted from Fox 13 News in Tampa Bay, FL

---

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Sunday marked 25 years since a Black teen was shot and killed by a white St. Petersburg police officer. People took to the streets in memory of Tyron Lewis, and the continued fight for justice.

“I can’t even imagine how my brother would look right now, or what he would be doing or how many kids he would have right now,” said Tyron’s sister, Deanna Lewis. “Twenty-five years of pain, anger, sorrow, frustration, everything.”

In 1996, Tyron was stopped by police at the intersection of 18th Avenue South and 16th Street. A white officer shot and killed the unarmed 18-year-old.

The death splintered the area, the city on the verge of chaos. The unrest went on for days with rioting, rock-throwing, and fires, putting St. Pete in the national spotlight. The anger and violence erupted again when the shooting was ruled justified and the officers cleared.

…

Read the full story on Fox13News.com »