Rally for Corey Stingley, Trayvon Martin Monday in West Allis



WEST ALLIS (WITI) -- Since the not guilty verdict was read on Saturday, July 13th, and George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, people have taken to the streets across the country to express their feelings on the case, and the verdict -- and another rally was held Monday evening at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis.

Corey Stingley was a student at Nathan Hale High School when he died. Organizers of Monday's rally see similarities between Stingley's death and Martin's. That's why 50-some people showed up to peacefully protest the Zimmerman verdict, and the fact that no one has been charged in Stingley's death.

Stingley died after an incident at VJ's Food Mart in West Allis back in December. Stingley had tried to shoplift beer from the store, but customers restrained him, and he later died.

Stingley's family believes he was killed, and says a private John Doe investigation started on July 2nd.

"Three men took the law into their own hands, thinking they could restrain someone and they couldn't restrain themselves," Stingley's father, Craig Stingley said.

Stingley's father said Monday the Zimmerman verdict "hit him like a ton of bricks."

"Right away, my heart broke for Tracy Martin because of what we've gone through," Craig Stingley said.

"I think we can get justice. I think if we bring a lot of awareness and if the people wake up, we can change things in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and across the country and I think people are waking up," community activist Tory Lowe said.

100 feet away Monday evening was a small counter-protest consisting of folks who say the country needs to accept the decision in the Zimmerman case.

Stingley supporters carried pictures of Stingley and marched silently to the West Allis Police Department -- praying those involved in his death will be charged.

"I believe they need to be charged adequately and swiftly," Craig Stingley said.

Stingley's death is currently the focus of a John Doe investigation. His dad says he's meeting with the District Attorney later this month to discuss possible charges and where the case goes from here.