In 1996, TyRon Lewis was fatally shot by a police officer, touching offthree nights of riots. More riots followed after the officer who shotLewis was cleared.
Several Pinellas County elected officials on Monday urged thecommunity to let the investigation of the police shooting of a St.Petersburg teenager run its course and not resort to violence.
Titled “An Open Letter to Our Community,” the statement wasspearheaded by Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, who said it was”something that’s been on my mind for quite a long time.”
Besides Welch, the letter was signed by St. Petersburg MayorRick Baker, state Rep. Darryl Rouson, City Council Chairman JamieBennett and City Council members Wengay Newton and Karl Nurse.
The statement criticized “recent comments alluding to ‘uprising’ orviolence” that might happen when Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney BernieMcCabe completes his investigation of the June 7 death of 17-year-oldJavon Dawson.
“In some parts of the community, there are some frustrations about the investigative process,” Welch said.
He said he was reacting to recent statements by a spokesman forthe International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement, which hascriticized police and prosecutors and asserted that Dawson’s death wastied to efforts to “turn St. Petersburg into an enclave for wealthywhite people.” The group said it does not encourage violence.