Family members of Rashad Cunningham, who was shot and killed by a Gary police officer Aug. 17, again pleaded with the City Council at its Tuesday meeting for information about the shooting.
Cunningham, 25, was killed in front of his residence at East 23rd Avenue and Kentucky Street in Gary.at 3:16 a.m. Gary police have released few details about the shooting circumstances and have turned the investigation over to the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
Ivan Simmons, Cunningham’s uncle, recounted what he termed a list of police wrongdoing in the past two decades, including accusations against the officer he said killed his nephew. Cunningham’s family have repeatedly identified the officer, but authorities have not released the officer’s name, nor explained what happened.
“My family is not anti-police. We are law-abiding citizens, or we try to be. We respect the police but the well has been poisoned for decades in our community… that’s why we have distrust of the process,” said Ivan Simmons.
Cunningham’s mother, Tonia Simmons, said she’s trying to hold herself together.
“Everything about my life is not the same. I do need closure. It’s been over two weeks. At least we can get some information… Maybe we can at least get the audio,” she said of police dispatch records.
Gary squad cars don’t have dash cameras and police don’t wear body cameras.
Council president Ron Brewer said he contacted Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez and was told the investigation would be a thorough one.
“He assured me it would be laid out to the family first before taking it to the media,” Brewer said. “I know whatever way it goes, you want to hear a conclusion to the entire matter”
Tonia Simmons has said her son had a gun and was licensed to carry it.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
