MACOMB, Ill. — Friends, family and activists held a rally to support the mother of the 4-year-old boy killed in Macomb in March.
Terrell Miller was shot by a Macomb Police officer during a domestic dispute. The boy was used as a human shield by 57-year-old Anthony George. The same bullet killed both.
April Dawn Smith is a friend of the family and a longtime community member.
"It's a really hard thing, because you're a parent, you've worked with kids, you've seen children, and for it to be a 4-year-old child- innocent child?" Smith said. "There's no words you can put on it. We're still stunned and numb right now."
She remembers Terrell as a sweet kid who loved trains and Spider-Man. She said everyone called him Turtle because of his big smile.
"He never gave you any difficulties or negative behavior," Smith said. "He was just a really, really happy child."
Smith said Terrell's mother Keianna had trouble getting pregnant before she had her son.
"He was a miracle baby. Because we never thought that Keianna could have children," Smith said. "And then when she got pregnant with Terrell, we were just ecstatic and excited."
Terrell's uncle Marlon Jackson said he seemed like an old soul.
"Like he already been here before," Jackson said. "Being four years old, it's like he already seen a lot of life already. Maybe 100 years already."
In the month since his passing, the community has rallied around Keianna. They raised $3,000 for her during a cook-out at the end of March.
"And it was really nice because we were only asking like 10, $15 for different plates," Smith said. "And people were donating like $80 for one plate."
As the family waits for answers from the Illinois State Police investigation, Smith said people should follow Terrell's example.
"The main thing that we're trying to get people to understand is smile. Because he always had a big smile on his face," Smith said.
As of Friday afternoon on April 12, the ISP had no updates they could share about the investigation.
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