Rockford officer won't be charged after shooting teenager in the back last fall
Winnebago County State's Attorney J. Hanley said a Rockford police officer's use of deadly force was justified after the officer shot a 17-year-old boy in the back.
In a press release, State's Attorney Hanley said no criminal charges will be filed against Rockford police officer Jordan Austin.
Police officers were dispatched to a home Sept. 24 in the 4400 block of St. Annes Way in Rockford for a domestic disturbance. The home belonged to Jennifer Sanders, the mother of Trayvion Bowman.
Sanders reportedly called 911 and told them that her son assaulted her, stole her phone, stole her mother's phone and then fled in her mother's car.
Read more:Father worries release of video of Rockford police shooting son will come too late
According to police, Trayvion crashed the car not far from the home and returned. When police arrived, he was in the basement armed with two knives.
Bowman's grandmother told authorities Bowman "had it up" and was pointing the knife at officers who told Bowman to put the knife down multiple times.
Authorities said Sanders was on the stairs when Bowman turned to go up the stairs towards his mother. At that time, Officer Austin fired a round and hit Bowman in the back. Another officer, Jacob Ditzler, fired his taser at Bowman at the same time.
In an interview following the incident, Sanders told officers she saw Bowman's eyes and they appeared to be dazed and glassed over, which she knew could be a sign of Bowman suffering a mental health episode.
Bowman's father, Brady, told the Register Star his son has been diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder, a chronic behavioral disorder that, according to the Mayo Clinic, involves "repeated, sudden episodes of impulsive, aggressive, violent behavior or angry verbal outburst in which you react grossly out of proportion to the situation."
Bowman said he and Sanders, adopted Trayvion when he was four days old. He said Trayvion's birth mother battled a drug addiction that likely caused the disorder.
Officer Austin is the second Rockford police officer within the last week to be cleared of any charges for use of deadly force. Officer Alexander Stone was cleared of any charges during an incident on Sept. 1, 2022.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford officer cleared of charges after shooting teen in the back
