The mother of an unarmed teenager shot dead by police in Madison , Wisconsin , says that similar killings throughout the country have become 'an epidemic ' . Andrea Irwin said that the two weeks since her son Tony Robinson was killed have been 'every mother 's worst nightmare ' The biracial 19-year-old was shot dead by white Madison police officer Matt Kenny , a 12-year- veteran , after an altercation around 6.30pm on March 6 . Scroll down for video . Andrea Irwin , the mother of Tony Robinson , said that teenager such as her son being shot by police had become an 'epidemic ' Robinson , 19 , was fatally shot by Madison , Wisconsin police officer Matt Kenny earlier this month following an incident where he was jumping into traffic . 'What was his reason for taking my son 's life ' Ms Irwin said when asked what she would say to Kenny by CBS News . 'What exactly was it that made him feel like that was his only option , that there was no other option ? And for it to be death , and to impose that sentence on my son . ' ' I feel like I 'm in a dream and I just want to wake up , ' she said . Robinson , who had been diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety , had reportedly taken hallucinogenic mushrooms before he was shot . A friend called 911 for help from police in dealing with him after he began going in and out of traffic and allegedly assaulted someone . Ms Irwin , who did not confirm that her son had taken hallucinogens , said that officers should have been conscious about approaching someone on mind-altering substances and that more than one officer should have been used in the incident . The mother , who said she 'grew up with him ' after having the boy young , was told about the shooting by his friend 's mother , according to the Guardian . She arrived at the University of Wisconsin medical center but was kept alone after not being allowed to wait with her boyfriend for news of her son 's condition . Ms Irwin ( right , comforting her 15-year-old son Jordan ) said that recent police shootings have been a 'slaughtering of children ' . Robinson 's uncle Turin Carter said that the young man , with a white mother and black father , was the 'face of America ' . Above , Carter and others carry Robinson 's casket . He was shot in the head , torso and arm . Ms Irwin , who has three remaining children , eventually learned that her friend had been shot by a police officer from a relative that saw it on the news . She called the experience 'gut-wrenching ' . A string of unarmed black men killed by police last summer set off a series of protests after the deaths . Subsequent decisions by grand juries in St Louis and New York not indict the officers involved intensified demonstrations that coalesced under the slogan 'black lives matter ' . Ms Irwin said it has been a 'slaughtering of children . And no answers behind it , no retribution ' . 'They 're not even allowing them to live their lives or start their lives ' . Robinson 's uncle said that Robinson , who had a white mother and black father , was 'the face of America . ' ' I think that our family dynamic shows that this is a universal issue , because we are not a family of just one race . We are a family of many races , ' Turin Carter said . Police killings of unarmed black civilians have led to waves of protests against perceived brutality and bias . Above , demonstrations in Madison over the past two weeks have remained peaceful . Wisconsin law now mandates that officer-involved deaths be investigated by agencies outside the police force . The family of Officer Kenny ( pictured ) released a statement supporting him . Protests in Madison , a college town and state capital where blacks make up 7 per cent of the cities 240,000 people , have been peaceful . The Wisconsin Justice Department ’ s Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into the incident . A new Wisconsin law mandates that outside agencies must investigate officer-involved shootings . Ms Irwin says she has spoken to Madison Police Chief Mike Koval about the incident and investigation into it . The family of Officer Kenny , 45 , released a statement on Thursday saying they were deeply saddened by the 'tragedy ' . 'Madison , as a community , can do better for all its citizens . We must discuss , perhaps with more urgency , how our community handles racial inequality and then do something about it , ' Amanda Kenny said , according to NBC . However , she added 'while we acknowledge that Madison has problems , we also feel that my brother is not one of them . ' 'Matthew is an exemplary officer who operates with the highest level of integrity , judgment , and restraint . '
Andrea Irwin said that she has been living 'every mother 's worst nightmare ' Matt Kenny officer Madison shot Tony Robinson dead earlier this month . Young man had reportedly taken hallucinogens and was jumping into traffic . Incident follows other police killings Ms Irwin calls 'slaughtering of children ' Kenny 's sister says city 'has problems but my brother is not one of them '