St. Petersburg, Florida riots of 1996 facts for kids
The St. Petersburg, Florida riots of 1996 were a series of public disturbances. They happened after a police officer shot and killed an unarmed Black teenager during a traffic stop.
Quick facts for kids St. Petersburg, Florida riots of 1996 |
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|---|---|
| Date | First Wave: October 25, 1996 – October 26, 1996 Second Wave: November 13, 1996 – November 14, 1996 |
| Location | |
| Caused by | First Wave: Shooting of Tyron Lewis Second Wave: Jim Knight not indicted |
| Methods | Arson, looting, rioting, gunfire |
| Status | Ended |
| Casualties | |
| Injuries | 11+ |
| Arrested | 20+ |
Contents
What Started the Riots?
On October 24, 1996, two police officers, Jim Knight and Sandra Minor, saw a gold sports car speeding. Officer Knight stopped the car in St. Petersburg, Florida. The driver was 18-year-old Tyron Lewis.
Officer Knight said he told Lewis to turn off the car and show his hands. Knight stated that Lewis bumped him with the car several times. Other people who saw it said the car was moving very slowly. Lewis's passenger, Eugene Young, heard Lewis say, "Please don't shoot, I ain't even got nothing!" Officer Knight then fired his gun three times, hitting Lewis. Tyron Lewis died at the scene.
The Riots Begin
After the shooting, a large crowd gathered. People became upset because the police did not share much information. Also, many witnesses described what they saw. The situation quickly became tense. The crowd began throwing rocks, bottles, and other items at police officers.
More police officers and sheriff's deputies arrived to help. Officers used tear gas to break up the crowd. However, some people continued to riot in the Midtown area of St. Petersburg.
During this first wave of riots, at least 20 people were arrested. There were 28 confirmed fires started on purpose. Groups of young people ran through the streets. They threw rocks, bricks, and bottles at officers, businesses, and cars. At least 11 people were hurt. This included a police officer who was shot and a newspaper photographer who was beaten. Stores were broken into and items were stolen. Thick smoke filled the neighborhood. The damage to property was estimated to be about $5 million.
What Happened Next?
After the first riots, Officer James Knight and his partner Sandra Minor were given time off with pay. This allowed for an investigation into their actions. Within a few weeks, a grand jury looked at the evidence. A grand jury is a group of citizens who decide if there is enough evidence for a criminal trial. This grand jury decided that Officer Knight's shooting of Lewis was reasonable. They also said it was not based on race.
This decision made many people very angry. It led to more riots on November 13 and 14. Just hours after the grand jury's ruling, the riots got worse. Over 30 fires were started. Two police officers and two firefighters were injured. One police helicopter pilot was even hit by gunfire. Dozens more people were arrested.
A Gym Renamed
The People's Democratic Uhuru Movement is a group that had a gym called "Uhuru Black Gym of Our Own." In 2006, city leaders moved the gym to a different building. They fixed up the building and renamed it the "All People's TyRon Lewis Community Gym." This decision caused some disagreement with many police officers.
In Popular Culture
In 2006, a movie called Loren Cass was released in the United States. This independent film, directed by Chris Fuller, showed the events of the St. Petersburg riots.
