1996 riots in St. Petersburg, Florida

None April 2020 St. Petersburg, Florida riots of 1996 First Wave: October 25, 1996 – October 26, 1996 Second Wave: November 13, 1996 – November 14, 1996 St. Petersburg, Florida, United States First Wave: Shooting of Tyron Lewis Second Wave: Jim Knight not indicted Arson, looting, rioting, gunfire Ended 11+ 20+ Riots occurred in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1996 following the shooting and death of an unarmed African American male teenage motorist during a police traffic stop. Initial incident Two police officers, Jim Knight and Sandra Minor, saw the gold sports car speeding on 18th Avenue S, on October 24, 1996. Knight, who was driving, flipped on the police car's emergency lights and stopped the car near the intersection at 16th Street. In court documents, Knight says he told the driver, 18-year-old Tyron Lewis, to turn off the car's engine and show his hands. Instead, Knight says, Lewis bumped him at least six times with the car. Witnesses would later say Lewis' car rolled at the speed of a baby's crawl. Lewis' passenger, Eugene Young, who was not shot, recalled Lewis saying: "Please don't shoot, please don't shoot, I ain't even got nothing!" Knight told his partner to smash the car's windows with her baton. As she did, Knight says Lewis attempted to turn the car. Knight was knocked onto the gold hood. He fired his Glock semiautomatic pistol three times, hitting Lewis twice in the arm and once in the chest. He died at the scene.http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/21/Neighborhoodtimes/_96_riots__After_nati.shtml Neighborhoodtimes: '96 riots: After national shame, did city change? Sharockman Aaron Swider Paul October 21, 2006 St. Petersburg Times Penn Ivan 2016-11-15 Riots During the investigation immediately following this event, a large crowd had gathered and became agitated due to the police department not sharing information and a number of witnesses describing events. The situation quickly got out of hand and the crowd began throwing rocks, bottles, and other items at police officers.http://www.cnn.com/US/9610/26/st.pete/ St. Petersburg quiet as leaders assess riots October 26, 1996 CNN 2016-11-16 Police officers received reinforcements from other local agencies and off-duty St. Petersburg Police officers. As officers and Sheriff deputies shot tear gas into the crowd and dispersed the initial crowd at 16th Street and 18th Avenue South, a number of individuals continued rioting through the area of St. Petersburg known as Midtown. At least 20 people were arrested and 28 arson fires were confirmed as groups of youths ran back and forth throughout the night, throwing rocks, bricks and bottles at officers in riot gear, businesses and passing cars. At least 11 people were injured, including a police officer who was shot and a newspaper photographer who was beaten, as hundreds of people swarmed through the streets after the shooting on October 24.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/death-sparks-race-riots-in-florida-1360220.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/death-sparks-race-riots-in-florida-1360220.html May 24, 2022 subscription live Death sparks race riots in Florida Davison Phil October 25, 1996 The Independent en-GB 2016-11-16 Stores were looted and thick smoke clouded the neighborhood just south of downtown.http://www.cnn.com/US/9610/26/st.pete/index.html CNN - St. Petersburg quiet as leaders assess riots - Oct. 26, 1996 www.cnn.com 2020-02-25 In total, the rioters were responsible for an approximate $5 million in property damage.https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/riots-st-petersburg-florida-1996/ St. Petersburg, Florida Riot, 1996 Greenlaw Marshall 2017-12-12 en-US 2020-02-25 Different media versions Media outlets published different versions of the initial incident. The media outlets in and around the St. Petersburg area included the information that the car Lewis was driving was suspected of being stolen. Media outlets outside the area only mentioned that Lewis was pulled over for speeding. The car was actually reported stolen but, after further investigation, was found to have been sold to Lewis for an undetermined amount of crack cocaine, then reported stolen by the seller.http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/12/Columns/He_was_no_poster_chil.shtml Columns: He was no poster child until these 55 seconds Jo Melone Mary May 12, 2004 St. Petersburg Times 2016-11-15 Aftermath After the rioting, Knight and his partner Sandra Minor were put on paid leave while investigation into their actions took place.https://books.google.com/books?id=oTgDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Riot+erupts+in+St.+Petersburg%2C+Florida%2C+after+white+cop+shoots+and+kills+black+motorist&pg=PA12 Jet Jet November 11, 1996 Johnson Publishing Company 90 12 en 0021-5996 Within a few weeks, the two officers were cleared of all charges by a grand jury, igniting further rioting on November 13 and 14.http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/22/news_pf/Tampabay/_Officers_primed_to_q.shtml Officers primed to quell uprising: Ten years after the riots, police are better equipped and trained. Raghunathan Abhi October 22, 2006 St. Petersburg Times 2016-11-15https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1996/11/14/violence-returns-to-st-pete-streets/ Violence Returns To St. Pete Streets Decker Twila November 14, 1996 Orlando Sentinel 2016-11-16https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-14-mn-64693-story.html Decision in St. Petersburg Riot Case Sparks New Clashes November 14, 1996 Los Angeles Times en-US 0458-3035 2016-11-16 Associated Press The Grand Jury had decided that Knight shooting Lewis was reasonable and it was not racially motivated, and this led to further riots. Not even a few hours after the Grand Jury's ruling, the riots worsened and over 30 fires were started, two police officers and two firefighters were injured (one of them a police helicopter pilot who was hit by gunfire), and dozens were arrested. Gymnasium naming The People's Democratic Uhuru Movement has a gym named "Uhuru Black Gym of Our Own." In 2006, city leaders moved the gym to an abandoned building on 9th St. S., renovated the building and renamed it to "All People's TyRon Lewis Community Gym." This move sparked controversy with many police officers.https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2006/10/22/how-dicey-can-a-gym-name-be/ Neighborhoodtimes: How dicey can a gym name be? Cora Casey October 21, 2006 St. Petersburg Times December 21, 2020 In popular culture In 2006, Chris Fuller's film Loren Cass was released in the United States depicting the riots.https://variety.com/2007/film/reviews/loren-cass-1200558580/ Review: 'Loren Cass' Koehler Robert June 13, 2007 Variety 2016-11-15http://cltampa.com/dailyloaf/archives/2009/07/24/st-petersburg-made-movie-loren-cass-gets-ny-times-rave-review St. Petersburg-made movie Loren Cass gets NY Times rave review Warner David July 24, 2009 Creative Loafing 2016-11-15 See also List of incidents of civil unrest in the United States References External links Officers primed to quell uprising, Ten years after the riots, police are better equipped and trained. By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN Published October 22, 2006, St. Petersburg Times Category:1996 in Florida Category:1996 riots Riot of 1996 Category:African-American history of Florida Category:African-American riots in the United States Category:Riots and civil disorder in Florida Category:October 1996 crimes in the United States Category:November 1996 crimes in the United States Category:Anti-black racism in Florida