TLC's T-Boz wants justice for mentally ill cousin shot 18 times by police

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene

The cousin of TLC’s Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins was shot to death by police in Peoria, Ill., last week and the singer is seeking justice.

According to her numerous Twitter posts and an explanation on Instagram, Watkins says her cousin, Eddie Russell Jr., 25, was shot 18 times by police as he emerged from his home.

A press release on the police department’s Facebook page describes Russell Jr. as an “armed suspect” who was shot “as he emerged from his home advancing towards officers with a handgun.” The release verifies that Russell "was struck 17-20 times."

Police were responding to a bank robbery earlier in the day on Sept. 20. Russell Jr. was identified on the bank surveillance video as the suspect. Police located him at home and shot him as he exited his home.

Russell Jr. died at the scene. Police said the handgun he was carrying matched the one used in the bank robbery.

Watkins described her cousin as mentally ill and wrote on Instagram that the police used his mother to lure Russell Jr. to leave the house, promising “we will give him the help he needs,” and when he walked out, they opened fire. Watkins also said in her post that the video surveillance tape from the bank doesn’t show her cousin holding a gun.

They say my cousin had a gun! Whatever he is holding isn't a gun! And they used his Mother to bring him out telling her

— Tionne T-Boz Watkins (@TheRealTBOZ) September 24, 2017

I've watched this story change so many times right before my eyes! Jr. Was a sweet harmless young man with mental issues he couldn't help

— Tionne T-Boz Watkins (@TheRealTBOZ) September 24, 2017

He NEVER DESERVED TO GET SHOT 18 times with AR 15's No one was being held hostage! But one thing we can ALL SEE that doesn't look like a gun

— Tionne T-Boz Watkins (@TheRealTBOZ) September 24, 2017

My Cousin Was Shot 18 Times Including the Face and Back of His Head! He Harmed NO ONE EVER! He Had Mental Health Issues AND THE COPS KNEW THAT! Anything he's ever Done Was minor and NON VIOLENT! Eddie Russell Jr -A Human-Being -A Son- Brother-Friend-Nephew - Cousin-HUMAN! The cops told his mother to call him out on a bullhorn 📢 USED her saying "WE WILL GIVE HIM THE HELP HE NEEDS" and He Came Out Because He Heard His Mother and They used beyond excessive force to gun him down also with heavy artillery used in warfare! 18 times? Shot eighteen times??? IF THEIR GOING ON WHAT HES HOLDING AT THE BANK THAT ISN'T A GUN! (Picture Is Posted)They Keep saying he had a gun! I don't see a gun in his hand at the bank they say he tried to rob! That's NOT A GUN! They blocked everyone off including neighbors at a 4 block radius including his mother and father and family!People could NOT go home! So no camera phones accessible is that why? COPS DIDN'T HAVE ON BODY CAMS now isn't that convenient! They Lied and told family members Eddie Jr was at the hospital to get them away from the house knowing he was dead outside the house where they killed him! They kept his BODY OUTSIDE ON THE GROUND FOR MANY MANY HOURS! First they reported he ran out shooting =LIES! Then one cop shot =LIES! Then 5-6 shots =LIES! Then 5-6 cops shot YEAH CLEARLY! But why SO MANY TIMES? Why THE AR15? They didn't even wait for the negotiator to arrive or is it that the negotiator took his time getting there? They haven't Even Gave my cousin the RESPECT of trying to call and explain WHAT HAPPENED IN DETAIL TO HER CHILD! He needs JUSTICE! His Mother and Father and Family need JUSTICE!!!! This wasn't a hostage situation! He didn't threaten anyone's life! This was a mentally iLL young man who needed help and should have received just that! PLEASE HELP HIS MOTHER AND SPREAD HER STORY SO SHE CAN GET THE HELP SHE NEEDS AND JUSTICE FOR HER SON!!!! His Mother Has Tried For Many Years To Get Her Son Mental Health Counseling He Needed! The system Failed Him and Her! #AmericaIsTainted #TrumpIsAChump #TakeAKnee #BendAKnee #JusticeForEddieJr #Shot18Times #tboz #tlc #tbeezy #tlcarmy #justice #peoriaillinois #EddieRussell

A post shared by T-Boz (@therealtboz) on Sep 24, 2017 at 5:07pm PDT