#TonyRobinson #news3
#TonyRobinson funeral begins with 800 mourners filling East High field house. Song playing: Gone Too Soon #news3
More than 1,000 people paid final respects Saturday to Tony Robinson, the 19-year-old unarmed black man who was shot and killed by a Madison, Wisconsin police officer on March 6.
The services, held at Madison East High School, had to open overflow rooms to accommodate the crowd, local media reported.
The service, led by Reverend Everett Marshall, opened with a poem by Maya Angelou and included a tearful obituary and songs including "One Sweet Day," "I Need You To Survive," and Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight."
Here's a look at the order of #TonyRobinson's funeral service starting at 4pm. #news3
Some of Robinson's friends and family talked about his desire to change his life for the better:
Jordan talks about #TonyRobinson's struggles w/a troubled past, and how he was working to make positive changes in his life. #news3
#TonyRobinson grandmother: One of the last things he said to me: 'I think I've got it figured out' referring to his future. #news3
Robinson was shot after police received reports of someone disrupting traffic.
Officer Matt Kenny, a 12-year veteran of the department, followed Robinson, police have said. The teen entered the home, and when Kenny heard a disturbance inside, he entered. Police said Robinson allegedly assaulted the officer, who then shot him three times – in the head, chest and torso, officials said.
Robinson, a recent high school graduate, was the only person in the house and was unarmed.
HIs death set off several night of protests in the city.
At the service, Rev. David Hart said:
Hart: We must not accept narrative of black girls and boys dying before their time #tonyrobinson #news3
The full obituary was included in the program, calling Robinson "a passionate and compassionate young man" who said he was going to "change the world."
#TonyRobinson's obituary
Thumbnail photo by Leah Linscheid.