Residents press Wilmington leaders to release body-camera footage after teen's fatal shooting

Residents and advocates used Wilmington City Council's public comment period to demand transparency in the police shooting of 19-year-old Kadir Skinner, urging immediate release of body-camera footage and an independent audit of the Wilmington Police Department.

Jean/Gene Messik, who said he "serves the unhoused," told the council "we know the footage exists. Release it. The public needs to know." Several other speakers repeated that demand and called for an outside independent audit; Tony Dunn and other commenters urged the council to hold the police and the mayor accountable. Councilman Owens asked the body to observe a moment of silence for Skinner and another recent young homicide victim, which the council observed.

No administration official or police representative released footage or provided a timeline for public disclosure during the meeting. Several council members said they supported more oversight and transparency in principle; some speakers pressed council itself to use its oversight powers to seek independent review or demand release of recordings. The meeting record shows repeated public requests and a council moment of silence, but no formal council action (motion, resolution, or vote) to compel release of footage was recorded during this session.

Advocates who spoke framed the demand as an issue of accountability and as part of a broader call to invest in community supports. Council members and staff acknowledged public emotion and agreed to continue conversations, but the transcript does not record a formal directive to the administration to publish footage or begin an audit.

The council continued with its legislative calendar after the public comment period.