CAPTION: Walter Armstrong with 7-year-old Raheen.

Chicago, IL – Following a Tuesday funeral service in which over 700 people packed the main floor and balcony of the Kenwood United Church of Christ, family members and supporters of police shooting victim Walter Armstrong will hold a protest march to Chicago Police Headquarters this Saturday, October 22. The protest will begin at 12 noon at the scene of the killing, 49th & Drexel, one block away from Operation P.U.S.H. headquarters, with a march to Chicago Police Headquarters at 3510 S. Michigan Avenue.

Armstrong family members and supporters angrily note glaring inconsistencies in the police account of their killing of Armstrong, such as police spokesperson Pat Camden's claim that Armstrong was wounded in the chest, a charge contradicted by both the coroner and witnesses to the police shooting. Eyewitnesses also report that police handcuffed the fatally wounded Armstrong rather than seeing to it that he received immediate medical attention.

"I've been there, so I know what they [the police] do," Rev. Leroy Sanders said during his sermon at the standing room only service Tuesday night. "Until we stand up as a people, they will keep on doing what they're doing."

Community activists say Armstrong’s killing is part of a wider pattern of rampant police violence, noting an October 13th article in the Chicago Defender which reported, "As of last week, there had been 30 incidents in which a civilian had been shot by Chicago Police [since January 1st]. Ten of these incidents were fatal shootings."

Armstrong is survived by his fiance, a 7-year-old and an 8 month old infant. The family urgently needs support for funeral and burial expenses. All are urged to make contributions to them by sending checks to the family's church. Please make checks payable to "Word of God Life Changing Ministries," write "Walter Armstrong Family Fund" in the memo section of your check, and mail them to 17961 Lavergne Avenue, Country Club Hills, IL 60478.