Stockton Family's Link To Ferguson Comes From 2010 Shooting
STOCKTON (CBS13) — The decision in Ferguson to not indict a police officer in the shooting of an unarmed teenager is hitting particularly close to home for a Stockton family.
Their son, 16-year-old James Rivera, Jr., was killed by police officers in 2010. The San Joaquin County District Attorney's office cleared the officers who fired on their unarmed teenage son, finding the officers' use of force was reasonable.
His family watched President Barack Obama's message in response to a St. Louis County grand jury's decision to not indict officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown.
Dionne Smith-Downes protested the day after the Brown shooting, taking her banners and signs to Ferguson.
"You've got mothers, you've got siblings, traveling all over these states, crying, asking for help, asking for justice," Dionne said.
Now they're sounding a call for people to come together, share awareness and hope for people who want to change.
"There has to be a guideline, there has to be a boundary set, when it comes to people's lives."
