Anthony J. Thompson Jr. must not posses died, shot to death by police Monday in your bathroom at their high-school, states Regina Perkins, the caretaker of Thompson’s sweetheart.
Perkins told Knox reports this woman is heartbroken and sick about Thompson’s death, grieving for him with his household, and questioning just how Knoxville authorities taken care of their particular way of the 17-year-old junior at Austin-East Magnet senior school on the day he had been slain.
The deadly conflict between Thompson and four police got set in place nine several months before when Thompson started dating Perkins’ child, Alexus web page, an Austin-East junior.
The two had a tumultuous connection, in addition to intensity of their battles got Perkins concerned.
«They had enjoyable with each other, there were fun,» Perkins mentioned. «My personal daughter truly planned to help him handle everything he had been going right through, but I know that situations were becoming poor so I performed everything I could as a parent to shield the woman from it.»
Web page, like many teens in a connection their own moms and dads you should not accept of, wasn’t up to speed with limitations. «it is not easy. She is 17,» Perkins mentioned. «Absolutely just a whole lot i will create, and I discover she don’t need me to require some of steps that I did.»
Perkins mentioned that for period before Monday, the students couple’s on-and-off-again relationship had used a dangerous turn, but she ended up being wanting to stabilize protecting and respecting the girl daughter.
“She appreciated your, she actually performed,» Perkins stated. «He was a great child, he’d ambitions and aim, but he’d some battles. Both of them went through a lot of things, so when a parent, I sensed it absolutely was important to protect the lady when I watched activities had been going inside the incorrect way the last few several months.»
Those final few months provided bodily matches, two suspensions and grievances from Perkins for the class to intervene and divide the two college students.
On Monday morning, webpage called their mom from an assistant main’s company, distressed and planning to leave very early. This lady mother allowed the woman to signal around and get home. When she surely got to your house, Perkins claims their girl had markings on the face and ended up being lacking some tresses.
Perkins pushed her girl a lot more than several period about what had happened before the female relented and acknowledge she and Thompson found myself in a scuffle during an argument.
«Alexus explained that she is grabbed and therefore their hair ended up being pulled, and that is truly just what directed us to believe that I needed to accomplish extra,» Perkins stated.
Around 1:30 p.m., Perkins stated, she experimented with but did not get to Thompson’s mom, after that decided the actual altercation have crossed a line. She also known as police.
Policeman Jonathon Clabough attained her home around 2 p.m., and got a written report.
At the same time, Thompson had been texting Perkins, stating he had been disappointed and frustrated that she wouldn’t want the couple getting along. Perkins stated she texted an answer to Thompson, telling him that an officer would be arriving at Austin-East.
«Anthony was actually conscious I experienced known as authorities and made a written report,» she mentioned.
Before Clabough leftover, he requested if there seemed to be any need to think Thompson might be equipped. Perkins stated she had been cautious to stress she didn’t think-so. The lady child, Perkins mentioned, actually discussed that Thompson got using 
skinny jeans along with no place to conceal a weapon.
“When Officer Clabough kept my house at about 2:36 p.m. the guy stated however become gonna Austin East to help make an arrest,» Perkins said, «but he had been considering no impact that Anthony have a weapon on your, and so I have no idea what happened after the guy kept the house.»
Perkins mentioned her center sunk when she saw a chopper hanging over the college not long after, and had gotten the news of a lockdown at Austin-East. She realized something worst have occurred.
The questions nevertheless haunt Perkins. How it happened to Thompson? The reason why ended up being the guy recorded? Why didn’t authorities telephone call negotiators and wait your away in place of going into the restroom after your?
Perkins wants she had never ever known as police that afternoon. A teen was lifeless, her girl are grieving losing her basic enjoy plus in demand for therapy, and as a parent, she’s got to sit down with-it all.
«i will be thus sorry, and I never ever intended for anything to accidentally him,» Perkins said. «Our company is mourning, my personal daughter try grieving the increased loss of this lady very first appreciate and in addition we also want solutions and justice in cases like this.»
Perkins try bothered that this lady girl and Thompson comprise actually permitted to connect during the school after they was dangling.
“I attempted my best to ensure every measure was actually taken. It’s difficult to keep these youngsters away from one another,» she stated.
«This could being stopped. That youngster should not be lifeless, and my condolences sincerely go out to Anthony’s group. There are many rumors, but here is the reality in what occurred before KPD got here.
«we-all want fairness for Anthony. He should still be here.»