- News-Gazette 5/21: details on what may have happened after the incident. Also information on the other child's detention and other pending legal matters here.
- WCIA 5/21: update that the child police were seeking after the shooting has turned himself in here.
- WILL 5/20: more information on the need for community support after shootings and the program being developed locally here.
I hope to have a more substantive update on the community response and other related news later this week.]
Yesterday the community held its first Violence Response Forum after the death of 14 year old Elijah Booker by gunfire this week. The News-Gazette had a quick explanation of these forums a couple weeks ago here:
After months of preparation, the Champaign Community Coalition announced Wednesday it will start a pilot program to hold neighborhood forums no more than 36 hours after a shooting...Full article here. WCCU had additional coverage with a video segment here. Cheat Sheet post announcing this specific forum here. An overview of the meeting is below, but first here are some links to the resources made available at the meeting:
After an incident of gun violence, said response team leader Karen Simms, neighbors and community members want to know they are safe, that there is information available and that they can quickly find resources.
"One of the things we know can reduce the impact of gun-violence events is if we get in early," Simms said. "People are less likely to have mental-health complications if that's the case, and they'll be able to have spaces to come together."
These "safe spaces," Simms added, need to be able to accommodate about 100 people and must already be perceived as a safe space within the community. Preston James, a team member and Urbana community-relations specialist, said the team will also identify speakers to deliver targeted messaging around safety, mental-health resources and crisis response.
- A Community Resource List with contact information and more information (PDF).
- The Community Guide brochure on violence prevention in the community (about the source)
- Tips for Survivors: Coping with Grief After Community Violence (about the source)
- Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event (about the source)
- Preventing Gun Violence (about the source)
- Local Rosecrance Counseling Services Brochure
The City of Champaign had information on youth programs going on this summer with additional contact information for people in their Neighborhood Services department (click to enlarge):
The United Garden Hills Neighborhood Association had information on upcoming neighborhood meetings for all Garden Hills residents to stay involved in the community:
Tonight's meeting agenda was followed pretty well. The generic "meeting name" highlights what Karen Simms described as some of the kinks being worked out in establishing these Violence Response Forums:
Karen Simms explained the purpose and format of the forum and thanked team members for bringing the event together. She said that it might be "politically messy," but the forum was going to give priority to impacted members of the community and ensure they get first voice. She explained the need to be respectful to and honor those voices.
Anthony Cobb, Champaign Police Department's Chief of Police gave their update on the situation. At the time the investigation was still open and they were still needing help from the public by calling 351-4545 or contacting Crime Stoppers with tips and information.
As of the time of the meeting the incident was assumed to be unintentional discharge of a firearm, though he didn't provide details at this time. The deceased victim was 14 year old Elijah Booker who was found shot and killed. A 15 year old is believed to be involved and they need help finding him. The child is a minor so they can't release the name, but they are hoping those familiar with the situation will provide police with information. He offered to answer any questions people had during the forum.
The Educational Representative from Unit 4 explained the response of the school district, how they learned of the incident in the early hours of the morning, and how that began a process of notification and bringing together the crisis response team. The team was described in the paper earlier this week as "a group of administrators, social workers and psychologists that planned the next '24-48 course' of events." She laid out the conversation about facts, in spite of the prevalence of rumors they go through. She explained the use of classrooms made available by an unrelated field trip for smaller intimate groups to inform students and provide counseling as needed.
The Educational Representative laid out some of the "Do"s and "Don't"s of talking to children after a traumatic event such as "do tell the truth" and "don't tell people how to grieve." At the end of the day the staff had a debrief. Many kids wanted to advocate for their community to be able to do something. Some were angry at the inability of adults to protect them.
The City of Champaign's Neighborhood services coordinator highlighted local programs, including the SLEEP program for the Garden Hills neighborhood. Karen Simms highlighted the Garden Hills Neighborhood Association information (in flyer above).
Champaign County Crime Stoppers explained how their tip system works for anonymity and that they had a table of information for anyone that needed it there.
A psychologist explained how adolescents and adults respond to grief and what to expect. She encouraged doing activities together, even if its just chores or errands and giving kids space to talk When they do talk, be a mentor. She encouraged physical activity since young minds aren't fully developed and need physical activity to deal with the physical effects of trauma their minds can't simply process away.
She got into a lot of details that I didn't understand completely, so I'll try to avoid paraphrasing it incorrectly. She explained how kids process thoughts on mortality, what's normal or fleeting, and what kind of thoughts (such as planning suicide) are emergency help situations. She explained how aspects of our culture can cause different behavioral responses due to expectations children learn about being boys or girls generally and of particular races. In the end, she explained, grief is a part of life.
Champaign Mayor Deb Feinen was invited and spoke during the civic leader portion of the agenda. She thanked the Community Coalition and Violence Response Forum team. She said she never expected the forums to be needed so soon and expressed sadness on behalf of herself and other board members present. She encouraged people to stay active in their community.
David Sankey's mother, Yvonne Johnson, spoke about the loss of her son and the pain of not knowing what happened caused while waiting for people to come forward with information. She encouraged people involved or know what happened to come forward to end that pain for the family. She talked about the subject in a recent WCIA interview available here along with an update on that case. David's grandmother also rose and spoke of the unimaginable loss she endured. Yvonne thanked the Champaign police and others in the community for doing what needs to be done.
Patricia Avery wanted people to know that the "room is here for you" and not just talk. She explained that "you are not alone" and people were ready to provide support and the community has a job to do too. "We can't do everything. But everybody can do something."
The forum then went into Q&A:
A veteran with the local Black Lives Matter organization asked what was being done about the people who are bringing guns and drugs into the community, pointing out that that takes resources the residents here don't have, yet are harmed and punished by. Chief Cobb attempted to explain that it was complicated and highlighted the evolving nature of the task forces the police have as the drug issues morphed with the opioid crisis and the reasons for disputes behind gun violence changed. The answer left the questioner frustrated about money needing to go to the community side of things instead of more police and jails, arguing that current policies are criminalizing the symptoms. The Chief argued that there's a shift in society towards that, and highlighted the presentation at the last City Council meeting on those very issues (Cheat Sheet post on that here). The questioner pointed out that this isn't a unique problem in Champaign and that her own niece had been shot in the neck the day before, though currently in stable condition in Chicago.
Another questioner asked about tracing guns and again Chief Cobb answered with some details about how the department has been working with the ATF on tracing databases.
There were a couple questions about summer programs for kids. The Daily Illini covered a recent event that highlighted some youth programs in the Garden Hills neighborhood this week here. Someone from neighborhood services pointed out the information they brought (above), that many were highlighted in that City Council meeting (video available online here), and that a lot of the programs aren't filled. The questions highlighted the need for more evening programs between 4-9pm, when kids are most likely to engage in risky behaviors, get pregnant, etc. Tracy Parsons of the community coalition noted the need for an inventory of programs and that may be a goal in time for next summer.
When it comes to youth programs there were gaps acknowledged. Adults plan for their convenience while kids often need services that don't line up and it will take the community to step up to fill those gaps. It was also pointed out that ensuring good adult outcomes will help ensure good outcomes for their kids, so not to leave out the needs of parents.
There was a question about access to a gym and computers at a local space that was planned, but now that space is being used for other programs related to community schools. There was some frustration with that answer and an offer to help make use of the space better.
A friend of the victim's family raised issues of education and firearms and concerns that kids without familiarization and training with firearms may be more prone to misuse or injury. He questioned the dedication of fathers and whether it was worth supporting programs if they're failing families.
Minnie Pearson of the NAACP followed up on the question of where the fathers were with an impassioned demand to make sure when we have that conversation we included mass incarceration policies and ensure that those reentering from the criminal justice system aren't punishing them for crimes they already paid for and preventing them from being there. Not just fathers, but mothers as well, who can't attend a PTA meeting because of an ankle monitor. She insisted that we have to advocate for them.
Someone requested child care at future forums, noting that many families wouldn't be able to be at the event because they have kids to take care of. Karen Simms encouraged feedback, even harsh criticism, on the evaluation forms so they can fill those kind of needs better.
There were a couple final announcements. One for a support group for young men whose details I unfortunately missed. And the last was from the family friend thanking everyone on behalf of Elijah's Dad along with some funeral details. Karen Simms gave some advice for those who might attend to be containers for grief.
Afterward a lot of people connected and talked. I'll update with more information as I learn about more follow up actions.
WCIA had some coverage of the funeral and interviews with the family earlier tonight here.
[Updated. Originally posted 5/18/2019 at 7:50pm.]
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