Mothers of young men shot by police call for more oversight

ST. LOUIS -- Two St. Louis-area mothers whose sons were shot to death by police officers say unrest in places like Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore won't stop until police work with, instead of against, the black community.

Toni Taylor and Alice Willis spoke Thursday to show support for Baltimore demonstrators and call for communities to give blacks more input into police operations.

The women spoke at a news conference at the corner near the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis where Taylor's son, Cary Ball Jr., was shot by two St. Louis officers in April 2013.

Willis' son, Michael Willis, was shot to death by a Jennings, Missouri, officer in September.

Ball, 25, fled from police pursuing him for a traffic violation, crashed a car near the dome and ran. Two police officers shot him 21 times.

A federal investigation requested by Police Chief Sam Dotson concluded the two officers were justified in using deadly force.

Willis, 42, was shot to death by St. Louis County officers Sept. 17. Police said Willis pointed a rifle at the officers.

The St. Louis region has had several officer-involved shootings in the nearly nine months since Aug. 9 death of Michael Brown, the unarmed, black 18-year-old who was shot by Ferguson officer Darren Wilson.

A St. Louis County grand jury and the U.S. Justice Department declined to prosecute Wilson, who resigned in November.

But the shooting spurred a national movement questioning police interaction with black communities.

Ferguson protesters have been back on the streets this week in support of demonstrators in Baltimore after the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, who died in police custody.

"Our black men are dying at an alarming rate, and no one is helping us," Taylor, 45, said. "No one is going to jail. No officers are being arrested or actually charged."

Willis said her son "did not deserve to be shot down like a dog."

She and other speakers called for cities to appoint commissions made up of black residents to oversee police operations in predominantly black areas and cities.

"Little children shouldn't have to be afraid of police officers," Willis said.