Madison , Wisconsin ( CNN ) Friends called him Tony . Family knew him by his middle name , Terrell . Now , Tony Terrell Robinson Jr. 's name is written on signs carried by demonstrators who say they 're demanding justice after a police shooting ended the unarmed teen 's life . As Wisconsin state investigators begin their inquiry into the controversial case , details are emerging about the 19-year-old biracial man . Turin Carter described his nephew as a person who had struggled to fit in . `` A lot of his identity was formed because of his racial ambiguity . ... Terrell felt ( like ) a misfit most of his life , '' Carter said . At one point , Carter said , his nephew 's desire to fit in led him astray . `` Terrell just wanted to be loved , honestly ... and as a result , made some poor decisions , and I think that 's something we can all relate to , '' he said . Last year , Robinson found himself in jail after stealing an Xbox and TV during a home invasion . An adviser with the Robinson family attorney told CNN the teen fell on hard times after his dad lost his job and then his apartment , forcing Robinson to live with friends . He pleaded guilty in December to armed robbery and was sentenced to probation . That same month , he wrote a post on Facebook slamming police : `` The only thing cops are trained for is to shoot first and ask questions later . '' Court documents from the case include letters the family wrote , asking the court to show mercy and vowing that the teen would never repeat his mistake . `` Tony has made a grave decision , one which may cost him his freedom , but before a decision is made I want you to know him as his family does . A loving son , a responsible older brother and a kindhearted , incredibly intelligent young man with hopes and dreams to become successful and to move forward in life , '' wrote Lorien Carter , his aunt . `` Growing up impoverished , and without his father , Tony managed to excel in school and sports . Graduating high school a semester early , he was on a great track . '' His grandmother , Sharon Irwin , described him as `` a great kid in between being a teen and a man . '' `` What he did was wrong . Following behind a boy he just met . He did n't want to go yet did it anyway , '' she wrote . `` That is one of his issues . Impulsive . The other is being a follower . '' Carter said his nephew 's run-in with the law last year had nothing to do with last week 's shooting . Robinson paid his debt to society and was trying to find his way and better his life , according to his uncle . `` They try to associate his past with this act , to paint a picture about the type of kid he was , '' he said . `` He was a good , kindhearted kid who was very happy and just wanted to be accepted and wanted to be loved . '' A GoFundMe page collecting donations for Robinson 's family says he was hoping to go to college and study business . Recent social media posts from the teen point to a troubling time in his life . In one post , he wrote , `` I hate my mind . '' Another said , `` I do n't need help im not crazy . '' A post from January says , `` My soul is dying . '' According to the Wisconsin State Journal , citing court documents , Robinson dealt with anxiety issues , depression and ADHD . Robinson 's mother , Andrea Irwin , stressed that her son was never violent . `` My son has never been a violent person , never , '' she told CNN affiliate WKOW . `` To die in such a violent way baffles me . '' During a confrontation before Friday night 's shooting , Officer Matt Kenny suffered a blow to the head , Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said . He has been placed on paid administrative leave while authorities investigate the shooting . Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said officials are n't going to put the teen on trial . `` That 's not what this is about . What this is about is finding out exactly what happened that night and to determine , then , responsibility , '' he told CNN 's `` AC360 . '' `` We know that he was not armed , and as far as the police chief and I are concerned ... the fact that Tony was involved in any kind of transgression in the past has nothing to do with this present tragedy . '' Ryan Young reported from Madison . Catherine E. Shoichet wrote the story in Atlanta . CNN 's Justin Lear , Sara Weisfeldt and AnneClaire Stapleton contributed to this report .
Tony Robinson 's uncle says the teen often felt like a misfit . The 19-year-old was killed by a police officer in Madison , Wisconsin , last week . Score: 6