Home renter: 15-year-old who was shot lived there

CHAMPAIGN – Kiwane Carrington ate breakfast in the house where he was shot hours later after a neighbor reported a possible burglary.

At 8:30 a.m. Friday, Debra Thomas, who lives at 906 W. Vine St., found the young man making breakfast. By 1:30 p.m., he and his friends had been let out of Champaign's alternative READY School and gone to the house to get out of the rain. Within minutes, he was shot in a scuffle with two police officers. Less than an hour later, he was pronounced dead.

Thomas said the 15-year-old boy had lived in the house all summer long and was "like a son."

Mr. Carrington died after being shot during a scuffle with police Chief R.T. Finney and another officer about 1:30 p.m. Friday at 906 W. Vine St. Another boy in the scuffle, also 15, remains in police custody on a burglary change. His name has not been released by the police or the family.

On Monday, Thomas pointed out the spot where the scuffle took place. A few feet away was a plywood-covered back-door opening. The damage was done by Champaign police, not burglars, Thomas said. She said the boys were confronted by police in the backyard, before they could enter the house.

Thomas said a neighbor told her the police had used a battering ram on the back door. When she returned from a Parkland College class later that day, she said, Illinois State Police investigators said the damage had been done by Champaign police.

Champaign police Deputy Chief Troy Daniels did not return calls about the damage, and Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Reitz said she would not comment about any aspect of the investigation.

In the attic, two doors to unused storage spaces were also broken in by police, Thomas added.

"They pretty much ransacked the house," said Thomas, whose family had to vacate the home for two days during the investigation while the front door was sealed.

The house's owner, Bill Sanderson of Champaign, said the city would probably reimburse him for the damage, and he has not filed an insurance claim. He said repairs would cost at least $600.

"I'm going to get it done (before reimbursement) because it's a safety issue for the occupant," Sanderson said.

At a press conference Monday at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, Thomas said the teen was a good boy and was welcome at her home.

A 911 caller had said the two boys were trying to get into the house through doors and windows, and officers responded.

Thomas said Mr. Carrington, her son's friend, did not have a key to the house. Nor do her four children. On Monday, the house was full of friends and family, and Thomas said that was usually the case. The living room has a large-screen TV and video games the boy liked to play, she said.

Also on this date

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• Champaign releases name of officer in shooting
• 200 block of South Elm to close Wednesday for repair
• More questions, few answers in Champaign death
• Separate investigation will look into officers' actions
• Champaign high school redistricting options presented
• Hospitals restricting visitors with flu-like symptoms
• Urbana City Council to begin looking at spending cuts
• Stabbing victim had restraining order against man
• Obituaries

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