Family of teen killed by Wilmington, Delaware, police should be able to review body cam footage, leaders say

City council members in Wilmington, Delaware, are calling on the police department to make body camera footage available after a 19-year-old was shot and killed by an officer last week.

Police said an officer shot Kadir Skinner late on June 24 near 24th and Jessup streets.

In a news conference, council members criticized Mayor John Carney for not speaking out about the shooting.

"The people deserve to hear their mayor acknowledge this tragedy, recognize their pain and the concerns that exist," City Council President Trippi Congo said.

The politicians also called for an independent investigation into the shooting that does not involve Wilmington police, as well as an external assessment of the department.

"Within the next 72 hours, the police department needs to at least let the Skinner family and their representatives see the body-worn camera," Councilmember Chris Johnson said.

"They treated him like an animal. That was somebody's baby," Council member Shané Darby said.

According to police, officers observed Skinner point a gun toward a crowd of people. When officers approached, they said the teen ran.

The teen's family says Skinner was shot more than once in the back. They question whether or not their son had a gun, and claim Skinner was running from a dog. They have since hired an attorney.

"They killed him, nothing requires three shots in the back," said a woman at Wednesday's news conference who identified herself as Skinner's cousin.

Carney's office said the Mayor was not available for an on-camera interview Wednesday.

Carney said in a statement Monday that the Delaware Department of Justice and Wilmington Police are investigating the shooting. His office also stated Wilmington police will show the body camera footage to Skinner's family but did not provide a timeframe.

The officer, who has not been publicly identified, is on administrative leave.