BUFORD, GA (CBS46) -
It's been nearly three months since Gwinnett County police shot and killed 15-year-old Dawntrae Williams at his Buford home. Sunday his grandmother and members of the National Action Network held a candlelight vigil at the scene of the shooting to call for criminal charges against the officers who shot the boy.
"It's been a tough wait because all I am hearing is negative and I am ready to hear something positive," said Dr. Aneta Harris, William's grandmother.
Investigators say the officers opened fire after the mentally handicapped boy ran at them with a machete. But family and friends said the 5' and 110 pound boy did not pose a deadly threat.
"I am not making any excuses for the boy to have had a machete in his hand, but I just do not see how that warrants him dying," said Marcus Coleman, with the National Action Network.
Police said they responded to the home because Williams was threatening his family and a therapist. But Marcus Coleman said police did not serve or protect anyone.
"What kind of protection is bullets whizzing through their house flying over their heads? What kind of protection is it when at least two officers that were shooting 17 shell casings? Both officers unloaded both clips," said Coleman. "What would be justice is if we could sit down with the district attorney and he could show us he plans to indict the officers and that we could meet with the powers that be so we can discuss changing, here in Gwinnett, the use of non-lethal force."
The DA's investigation into the shooting continues. It is not clear when or if criminal charges will be filed in the case.
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