UNION CITY | Councilwoman blasts mayor, joins shooting protest | News

UNION CITY, Ga. -- After a Union City councilmember blasted the city's actions in the wake of the December shooting of a teenager during Tuesday night's council meeting, the city finally issued a note of sympathy to the victim's family.

"I cannot sit here! I can't do it no longer! I'm not going to be silent! It's wrong!"

Union City councilmember Angelette Mealing, erupted in anger during the city council's meeting Tuesday night, and she declared her support of the family of 19-year-old Ariston Waiters, who was shot and killed by a Union City police officer on December 14.

PHOTOS | Protest for Ariston Waiters
VIDEO | Waiters' mother's statement to city council

Mealing spoke out after members of the public, including Waiters' mother, told the council they feared that the investigation by the GBI and the Fulton County District Attorney would not get to the truth of what happened and, as a result, the officer would be exonerated.

Councilmembers and others with the city have maintained their silence during the investigation -- until Mealing broke ranks Tuesday night and joined demonstrators in calling for a federal investigation of possible civil rights and human rights violations.

Wednesday afternoon, the city issued a statement expressing their sympathy for "all parties" involved in the shooting.

The Union City Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation have completed their investigations into the lethal force incident involving Ariston Waiters. This event occurred on the night of Wednesday, December 14, 2011, on Hickory Lane Circle. The results of the GBI investigation have been forwarded to the Fulton County District Attorney's office for review.

The City sends its heartfelt sympathy and prayers to the Waiters family as well as all affected parties. It would be premature and inappropriate to comment further on the matter until the Fulton County District Attorney's Office has completed its investigation and review of the incident. Therefore, the City is refraining from taking an official position until all investigations into the matter are concluded. Any position taken by an elected official of the City that departs from the statements contained herein is the opinion of that official only and does not represent the position of the City.

The statement referred all additional inquiries for information or comment to the Fulton County District Attorney's office.

The status of the investigation is this:

District Attorney Paul Howard received, late last week, the GBI report on the incident, and he has begun to go over all of the hard evidence gathered by the GBI. On Wednesday Howard was scheduled to meet with Waiters' family members, according to a family spokesman.

Tuesday night on the steps of Union City's City Hall, in a driving rain just prior to the city council meeting, protestors demanded that Howard respond within 48 hours, and they spoke of the need for the U.S. Justice Department and the FBI to investigate.

Waiters was shot to death when, according to Union City police, he struggled with an officer who was trying to arrest him, and grabbed the officer's gun.

The autopsy concluded Waiters died from two gunshot wounds to the back.

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Read the complete statement from Union City Police

click here

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Protestors at the Tuesday night rally said there is no way the officer accidentally shot Waiters twice in the back, and contended that the investigation is corrupt since, for example, the officer was present when investigators questioned witnesses about what happened. The police department has vehemently denied any impropriates and pointed out that it was the chief himself who brought in the GBI to take over the investigation.

Freda Waiters addressed the council quietly, in tears.

"Ariston was my only son. I speak today not only on his behalf, but on behalf of every mother who has lost a child at the hand of a policeman. Since Ariston's death I've not had any contact from anyone with Union City. It is my hope today that you are aware that Ariston had a loving family and some people that cared for him. I just want you to do everything in your power to prevent this tragedy from ever happening to any other family. The pain I experience on a daily basis is more than anyone can ever imagine."

It was after Freda Waiters spoke when Councilmember Mealing took the floor. The mayor tried to declare Mealing out of order.

"I won't be silenced!" Mealing shouted. The capacity crowd of more than 100 protestors broke out into cheers and applause.

"I too am deeply sorry," Mealing continued, addressing Freda Waiters, who looked at Mealing without expression.

"I feel your pain. I will no longer be silent.... They don't want me to tell you that I'm sorry. They don't want me to say that we should have offered our condolences to the family.... I cannot sit here, I can't do it no longer. I'm not going to be silent! It's wrong!"

The crowd continued to cheer as Mealing announced she would push for a federal investigation of the shooting.

No one from Union City police will speak to 11Alive News, but they said in an email dated January 14 that, "Officers observed Waiters fleeing the scene" of a shooting that night last month. "Several witnesses advised officers [Waiters] had fired the shots.... Waiters grabbed the officer's service weapon and a fight over the weapon ensued. During the struggle, our officer discharged his service weapon, mortally wounding Waiters."

The district attorney has not set a timetable for assessing all of the facts and deciding whether to prosecute the officer, or drop the case.