Grand jury: Shooting of unarmed IL man justified

[December 24, 2009]  ROCKFORD (AP) -- A grand jury has ruled that the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by two white police officers at a northern Illinois daycare filled with children was justified.

The Aug. 24 killing of 23-year-old Mark Anthony Barmore at the church-run facility in Rockford raised tensions between police and the black community in the city, about 90 miles northwest of Chicago.

Thousands attended rallies protesting the shooting and U.S. Department of Justice mediators were sent to ease racial unrest.

Winnebago County State's Attorney Joe Bruscato says the grand jury ruled Wednesday that the shooting was justified. Bruscato says he agrees with that assessment.

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Information from: WIFR, http://www.wifr.com/

[Associated Press]

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