Marcellis Stinnette: Family of teen from Jacksonville killed by police in Illinois speaks

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Marcellis Stinette, 19, was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop in Waukegan, IL on Tuesday.

Stinette’s family says the 19-year-old was born and raised in Jacksonville and went to Terry Parker High School before moving to Illinois.

“I have to be strong for my sisters, I have to be strong for my mother, I have to be strong for everybody! I’ve tried to be strong, but I can’t! They took something I can’t get back,” Tanellis Holmes, Stinette’s sister said.

“We thought it was at the hands of some type of street thug, or something like that,” Selvin Holmes, Stinette’s father said. “But when you get the full details and find out that it was a police officer, it hits you in a different manner.”

Action News Jax interviewed Stinette in 2016 after he was chased through a local neighborhood by a man wanted by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Stinette was 14 at the time.

Zharvellis Holmes is Stinette’s mother.

“When my baby went out, he went out with a smile. He’s at that coroner’s office right now with a smile,” Holmes said.

Stinette’s 20-year-old girlfriend, Tafarra Williams, was also shot Tuesday but survived.

Waukegan police say officers were investigating reports of a suspicious vehicle. They then say they saw the car with Williams and Stinette inside take off.

Investigators say another officer spotted the car at a different location.

“That officer exited his vehicle and the vehicle that he was investigating began to reverse towards the officer. The officer pulled out his duty weapon and fired into the vehicle,” Edgar Navarro, Waukegan Police Commander said.

Stinette’s family says they’re searching for clarity on what happened. The family pointed to a Facebook Live on the page ‘BLAK’ of a man, Darrell Mosier, who claims he saw the incident.

Mosier alleges police crashed into the car with Stinette and Williams inside.

“… He just rammed the car, and after he rammed the car, the car was spinning,” said Mosier in the Facebook Live.

“The police report does not mention a crash with the police officer,” Zhanellis Banks, Stinette’s sister said.

Stinette’s family says the teen had been injured in a car crash in August and had difficulty walking.

“He was a passenger. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. He wasn’t carrying a gun. He was in the passenger’s seat, and now he’s dead,” Zhanellis Banks, Stinette’s sister said.

The evidence, including video, was turned over to the Illinois State Police.

“As soon as the Illinois State Police are done, I will review their investigation,” Mike Nerheim, Lake County Attorney said. “If I determine that a police officer, or anybody, committed a violation of the law they will be charged.”

His family is calling for answers, justice, and reform.

“My message is to [the officer], you are a coward, to come and shoot up a car, and shoot up people who did not, who wasn’t a threat to you,” Stinette’s mother said. “You need to pay for this. I hope you rot in jail.”

Stinette’s mother told Action News Jax they’ve seen GoFundMe accounts being set up for the family, but says they’ve been set up without the family’s permission.

“I want this to be known all over, I never set up a GoFundMe. If I set up a GoFundMe, everybody will know, I will make it national news,” Stinette’s mother said. “I just don’t want people to get funds off of my dead son. I don’t want scammers to take from my baby. I didn’t ask for a GoFundMe, I never set up a GoFundMe.”

Cox Media Group