TLC’s Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and family are in mourning after police shot her cousin Eddie Russell Jr. “17-20 times,” killing him, according to the singer.
The distraught songstress dropped the disturbing news Friday afternoon via Twitter.
“My Is Broken! U Think The Tragedies That Happen Across The World Wouldn’t Happen2 U At Least U Hope They Won’t! But To Us It Did,” she wrote on the social media site.
The 47-year-old explained, “The cops shot my cousin 17-20 times KNOWING he was mentally ill. Their Stories R diff EVERYTIME Making him out 2 be something he’s NOT.”
“Pray for My Family and please ask for TRUE FACTS AND JUSTICE,” she asked of her followers. “This Country is Tainted PERIOD.”
The mother of two later went into more detail on Instagram.
“My Cousin Was Shot 18 Times Including the Face and Back of His Head! He Harmed NO ONE EVER! He Had Mental Health Issues AND THE COPS KNEW THAT!”
She continued, “The cops told his mother to call him out on a bullhorn 📢 USED her saying “WE WILL GIVE HIM THE HELP HE NEEDS” and He Came Out Because He Heard His Mother and They used beyond excessive force to gun him down also with heavy artillery used in warfare! 18 times?”
The multiplatinum-selling artist then revealed that police believed her cousin robbed a bank and was in possession of a firearm.
“They Keep saying he had a gun! I don’t see a gun in his hand at the bank they say he tried to rob! That’s NOT A GUN!”
Check out her full explanation and the tweets & images in question below.
Our condolences to the Watkins and Russell family.
