Security guard, 67, killed by nine officers in Gary, Indiana — family demands answers

Kenneth Williams, a 67-year-old armed security guard, was shot and killed by nine police officers in Gary, Indiana. His family says they were left with no information and are demanding answers.

Nine officers open fire on armed security guard in Gary, Indiana; family left without answers

Google News MT — Crime (en) reports that the family of Kenneth Williams, 67, of Gary, Indiana, is demanding answers after Indiana State Police confirmed that nine officers shot and killed him on Friday night.

Williams was working as an armed security guard at the Metro Center in downtown Gary when officers were called to the intersection of 4th and Broadway. According to Indiana State Police, Williams was behaving unusually and erratically. Six officers from the Gary Police Department and three from the Lake County Sheriff's Department responded — all nine discharged their weapons.

Williams' sons, Jonathan and Kenneth Williams Jr., say they only learned of their father's death when the family received a call the following day asking them to identify his body.

"He was just a family-oriented person, you know, with family and going to family," Kenneth Williams Jr. said.

Jonathan described his father as one of his closest companions. "Man, he was great. He was like one of my best friends. He was hanging out basically every day," he said. "I didn't know that was going to be the last day."

Williams was a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His sons say he was police-friendly and simply went to work that night as part of his job.

Witness Kristin Lindsey, who was in the area at the time, described the volume of gunfire. "A lot of shots. It had to be like 100 or something shots rang out," she said. At least 100 evidence markers were placed around the park outside the Metro Center. A rubbish bin struck by approximately a dozen bullets remained at the scene on Sunday.

"It feels like it's overkill. You know, it feels like it's too much," Williams Jr. said.

Anthony Riccio, former first deputy superintendent with the Chicago Police Department, urged caution in drawing early conclusions. "I think it would be a little soon to call it overkill," he said, noting that many details remain unknown. "We don't know 99 of those rounds could have missed this individual. We just don't know. We don't know how many he fired back at the police."

Riccio added that body camera or surveillance footage is expected to be released within days, and that the public should allow Indiana State Police's investigation to run its course. On the question of why nine officers were needed, he said: "You want to make sure you have enough officers to protect the public."

Williams' sons say they have not been contacted by investigators since the incident. "He's 67, go to work, comes home, eat. He's police-friendly. You know, makes no sense at all," Williams Jr. said.

All nine officers involved have been placed on administrative leave in line with standard protocol. None sustained injuries. Indiana State Police are leading the investigation.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)