INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
PUBLIC REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
INVESTIGATION
NUMBER:
OFFICER(S)
INVOLVED:

Log #1007565; U #07-23

“Officer A” (Chicago Police Officer); Male/White; 36
years old; On Duty; In Uniform; Year of Appointment –
1999
“Officer B” (Chicago Police Officer); Male/Hispanic; 36
years old; On Duty; In Uniform; Year of Appointment –
2002
“Officer C” (Chicago Police Officer); Male/Hispanic; 32
years old; On Duty; In Uniform; Year of Appointment –
2000
“Officer F” (Chicago Police Officer); Male/White; 32 years
old; On Duty; In Uniform; Year of Appointment – 2000

OFFICER
INJURIES:

“Officer A” – Gunshot pellet graze to left temple, right
hand, right forearm, and back of right arm; non-fatal
“Officer B” – None Reported
“Officer C” – Gunshot pellets embedded in inner right
forearm; non-fatal
“Officer F” – Gunshot pellets embedded in back of right
shoulder, graze to right side of head; non-fatal

SUBJECT(S)
INVOLVED:

“Subject 1”; Female/Black; 50 years old

SUBJECT
INJURIES:

“Subject 1” – Multiple gunshot wounds; fatal

INITIAL
INCIDENT:

Battery With A Gun In Progress; Shots Fired

DATE/TIME:

15 July 2007, 2057 Hours

LOCATION:

5028 W. Adams, 2nd Floor
Beat 1533

Page 1 of 13

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
On 15 July 2007 at approximately 2057 hours, Officers A, B and C along with
Officers D, E and F responded to a battery with a gun in progress at 5028 W. Adams.
While en route, the call was elevated to shots fired at 5028 W. Adams. When officers
arrived at 5028 W. Adams they were met by Witness 1 who related that she and her
mother, Witness 2, were attempting to collect rent from Subject 1 when an argument
ensued and Witness 2 was struck in the face with a shotgun. Witness 1 also told officers
that after she exited the house she heard two shots fired. Officers A, B, C and F entered
the building and went to the 2nd floor while Officers D and E went to the rear of the
building. Officers A and F stood in the hallway near the door to the second floor
apartment and announced their office. The officers demanded entry into Subject 1’s
apartment. Officers B and C were on the stairs below the 2nd floor. There was no
response to the officer’s demands. However, the officers heard the sound of a shotgun
being pumped.
Officer F kicked the door to the apartment and Officer A forced it open. When
the door opened, Officer F observed Subject 1 pointing a shotgun at them. Subject 1
fired the shotgun and the officers, in fear for their lives, returned fire. Officers A and F
were both struck by the shotgun pellet discharge and retreated for cover down the
stairway to the landing between the 1st and 2nd floor. Subject 1 then pointed the shotgun
out the apartment door and fired at Officers B and C who were still on the stairs above
the 1st floor. The shotgun pellet discharge struck Officer C. Officers B and C then
returned fire at Subject 1, causing her to fall to the floor in a sitting position. Officer C
then loaded a fresh magazine as he and Officers A and B rushed to the doorway of the
apartment. The officers observed Subject 1 on the floor attempting to pump the action of
the shotgun. Fearing they were about to be fired upon again, Officers B and C discharged
their weapons at Subject 1 who fell back onto the floor, fatally wounded.

Page 2 of 13

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
INVESTIGATION:
Witness 1 related to the roundtable panel an account of the incident that was
consistent with the Summary of Incident. Witness 1 specifically related that she and her
mother, Witness 2, were attempting to collect rent from Subject 1 when Subject 1 became
irate and hit Witness 2 on the face with a shotgun. Witness 1 had her baby with her and
tried to hide with the baby on the floor. Witness 1 was able to escape the apartment and
while running out she saw Subject 1 and her mother struggling. Witness 1 called 911 and
heard the shotgun go off while on the phone with the 911 operator. The 911 operator told
Witness 1 to meet Emergency Medical Services (“EMS”) outside of the house, and when
the Chicago Fire Department arrived she informed them that the lady upstairs had a gun.
When police officers arrived they were told about the gun, and then they went upstairs.
Witness 1 heard Subject 1 fire the shotgun and then heard the officers’ shots.

Witness 2 related to the roundtable panel an account of the incident that was
consistent with the Summary of Incident. Witness 2 stated that she was there to collect
rent from Subject 1. Subject 1 pulled out a shotgun and pointed it at her, then struck her
on the head with the shotgun. Witness 2 was able to flee the apartment and heard three
shots fired as she was fleeing. Witness 2 stated that when officers arrived she was
already a block away in her car. Witness 2 did not witness the officers arrive or witness
any portion of the shooting as she was already in her car.

Page 3 of 13

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
INVESTIGATION: (Continued)
Officer B related to the roundtable panel an account that was consistent with the
Summary of Incident. Officer B stated that when he and Officers A, C, and F entered the
building they heard the sound of a weapon cycling. Officer F attempted to break the door
to the apartment but was unable to. Officer A then attempted and was able to break the
door. Subject 1 fired at them and Officers F and A returned fire. Subject 1 then entered
the entryway of the apartment, facing them in the hallway and fired again. Officer C
returned fire. Subject 1 then fired at Officers A and C. Officer B then returned fire and
observed Subject 1 sitting on the floor, trying to rack the shotgun again. At that time
Officers B and C both fired at Subject 1.

Officer A related to the roundtable panel an account that was consistent with the
Summary of Incident. Officer A added that the officers heard the cycling of a shotgun as
they approached the apartment. The apartment door was closed and Officer F tried, but
failed, to force the door open. Officer A forced it open by pushing his shoulder into the
door. Officer A added that he sustained injuries from shotgun pellets on the back of his
triceps and forearm.

Officers C and F did not provide accounts to the roundtable panel. Both officers
were hospitalized due to the injuries they sustained during the incident.

Page 4 of 13

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
INVESTIGATION: (Continued)
In a statement to the IPRA on 19 June 2008, Officer C provided an account of the
incident that is consistent with the Summary of Incident and related Department Reports.
Officer C stated that as he entered Subject 1’s apartment he was immediately shot in his
forearm by Subject 1 who was holding a shotgun. Officer C returned fire and retreated
down the stairs to reload and find cover. Once he re-loaded, Officer C went back up the
stairs towards the second floor where Subject 1 was still pointing the shotgun at him from
approximately ten feet away. Fearing for his life, Officer C fired several shots at Subject
1 and she fell to the ground. Officer C did not recall Subject 1 speaking to him or other
officers present during the incident. Officer C sustained a gunshot to the right forearm.

In a statement to the IPRA on 20 June 2008, Officer B provided an account of the
incident that is consistent with the Summary of Incident, related Department reports and
the account he provided to the roundtable panel. Officer B stated that prior to entering
the residence the officers were met by paramedics and a female victim, only identified as
the “landlord,” who informed the officers that Subject 1 had a gun and had already fired
at her.
Upon entering the building, Officer B stood at the bottom of the stairs with
Officer C directly in front of him and Officers F and A in front of them. Officer F kicked
the door open after Subject 1 failed to open the door. The officers were immediately
fired upon by Subject 1, and Officer B saw Officers F and A return fire and take cover at
the bottom of the stairs. Officers B and C fired at Subject 1 as she pointed the shotgun at

Page 5 of 13

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
INVESTIGATION: (Continued)
them. All of the officers gave Subject 1 verbal commands to drop her gun, which she
ignored. Subject 1 attempted to reload her weapon and fire at the officers and, in
response, Officers B and C continued firing at Subject 1 until she was no longer a threat
to them. Officer B did not reload his weapon.

In a statement to the IPRA on 23 June 2008, Officer A provided an account of the
incident that is consistent with the Summary of Incident, related Department reports and
the account he provided to the roundtable panel. Officer A stated that when he forced the
apartment door open he was immediately struck by pellets from Subject 1’s shotgun, and
he retreated back down the stairs. Subject 1 fired again and Officer F was struck; Officer
A rushed Officer F down the stairs and out of the building. Officer A heard several
gunshots and then later saw Officer B clearing the apartment. Officer A sustained a graze
wound to the forehead and was shot in the right arm and shoulder.

In a statement to the IPRA on 08 July 2008, Officer F provided an account of the
incident that is consistent with the Summary of Incident and related Department reports.
Officer F stated that after forcing the door open, Subject 1 stood at the threshold of her
doorway and pointed her shotgun directly at Officer F’s face. Officer F turned away and
Subject 1 fired, striking him in the head, shoulder, vest, and left index finger. Officer F
returned fire, firing approximately five rounds, and fell back to a safer location further

Page 6 of 13

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
INVESTIGATION: (Continued)
down the stairs. When Officer F went back up the stairs, Subject 1 was lying on the
ground.

A letter received from the Fraternal Order of Police indicated that Officers F and
C were unwilling to waive their HIPPA rights and would not provide their medical
information for the investigation.

The report from the Chicago Police Department Assistant Deputy Superintendent
(“ADS”) included an account of the incident that is consistent with the Summary of
Incident.

A canvass was conducted and Witness 3 was identified and interviewed. Witness
4 was also identified during the canvass. Attempts to contact witness 4 via letters and
personal visit were met with negative results. Witness 4 therefore, was not interviewed.

In an interview with IPRA on 16 July 2007, Witness 3 stated she was outside her
house and observed a woman come out of 5028 W. Adams. The woman came over to
Witness 3 and her friends and told them that her sister pulled a gun on her. Witness 3
never saw the woman’s sister. Witness 3’s friends called police. Witness 3 heard a shot
coming from inside 5028 W. Adams before the police arrived but did not see anyone
shooting. A fire truck arrived first but they waited for the police to arrive, and when they

Page 7 of 13

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
INVESTIGATION: (Continued)
did there were two cars with three officers in each one. The officers entered the house
and Witness 3 heard 4-5 more gunshots from inside the house. Witness 3 did not observe
anyone run out of the building and later saw the police bring a long gun out of the house.
Witness 3 did not know the woman who told them to call the police or the woman’s
sister.

The Ambulance Report for Officer F indicates that paramedics responded to a call
of “a woman beat with a shotgun.” Upon arrival they heard multiple shots being fired
and several police officers running in the direction of the gunshots. Officer F approached
paramedics and informed them that he had been shot. Officer F sustained what appeared
to be several buck shots to the right side of his head and shoulder. Paramedics requested
additional ambulances. The Ambulance Report for Officer A indicates that he was shot
in the right bicep, wrist and forearm from a shotgun. Officer A was taken to Mount Sinai
Hospital. The Ambulance Report for Officer C indicates he sustained a shotgun wound
to the right forearm. Officer C had an entrance but no exit wound to his right forearm.
Officer C was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital.

The Tactical Response Reports from the involved officers indicate that Officer A
fired four (4) times, Officer B fired sixteen (16) times, Officer F fired five (5) times and
Officer C fired twenty-six (26) times.

Page 8 of 13

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
INVESTIGATION: (Continued)
The Case Supplementary Report from Area 5 includes accounts of the incident
that are consistent with the Summary of Incident and the accounts provided at the
roundtable.

The Office of Emergency Management Communications (“OEMC”) Event
Queries for the incident indicate a female was beat in the head with a double-barrel
shotgun. The offender is identified only by a first name, which matches the first name of
Subject 1. The offender lived on the third floor and was described as a female/black,
wearing a black/brown sun dress. It was reported that the offender was firing at officers.
Multiple shots were heard and various ambulances were called to the scene for injured
officers. The offender was described as Dead on Arrival (“DOA”) at the address of
incident and was not transported to the hospital.

The Evidence Technician Photographs depict Officers C, F and A and their
various injuries; the exterior of 5028 W. Adams; the shotgun used by Subject 1; the
apartment door that was forced open by officers; an interior door at 5028 W. Adams with
various bullet holes embedded in it; and Subject 1 lying on the floor in the entryway to
the third floor apartment.

A report from the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services (“ISP”) dated
18 October 2007 reflects that, of the fired evidence recovered at the scene and at the

Page 9 of 13

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
INVESTIGATION: (Continued)
autopsy, seven (7) bullets and twenty-six (26) cartridges were matched to Officer C’s
weapon; four (4) bullets and three (3) cartridges were matched to Officer A’s weapon;
five (5) bullets and sixteen (16) cartridges were matched to Officer B’s weapon; and two
(2) bullets and four (4) cartridges were matched to Officer F’s weapon. 1 All four
officers’ weapons were examined, found to be in firing condition and test fired.
A report from ISP dated 04 September 2008 reflects that results of a gunshot
residue collection kit administered to Subject 1 indicated that Subject 1 discharged a
firearm, contacted a PGSR related item, or had both hands in the environment of a
discharged firearm.

The Medical Examiner’s Report indicates Subject 1 had a through and through
gunshot wound of the left underside of the chin involving the left mandible; a through
and through gunshot wound of the left underside of the chin involving the left mandible
and the left temporal bone of the skull; a through and through gunshot wound of the right
underside of the chin involving the tongue; a graze wound of the right medial breast; a
gunshot wound of the left upper chest involving the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and
musculature in the area; a through and through gunshot wound of the left lateral breast
involving the skin and subcutaneous tissue; a gunshot wound of the left lateral breast
involving the skin and subcutaneous tissue; a gunshot wound of the left chest involving
1

The ISP report dated 18 October 2007 also indicates that, of the recovered evidence at the scene, two (2) fired bullet
fragments were unsuitable for microscopic comparison; two (2) metal fragments were unsuitable for microscopic
comparison; one (1) bullet jacket fragment was unsuitable for microscopic comparison; and one (1) fired bullet and one
(1) fired bullet jacket fragment could not be identified or eliminated as having been fired from Officer C’s weapon.

Page 10 of 13

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
INVESTIGATION: (Continued)
ribs, heart, pulmonary vein, and right lung; a through and through gunshot wound of the
left side of the chest involving the skin, subcutaneous tissue and musculature in the area;
a graze wound of the left upper abdomen; and a through and through gunshot wound of
the left forearm involving the left radius and ulna. The cause of death was multiple
gunshot wounds. The manner of death was homicide.

Page 11 of 13

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
CONCLUSION AND FINDING:
This investigation found that the use of deadly force by Officers B, C, F and A
was in compliance with Chicago Police Department policy and State statutes. According
to the Chicago Police Department’s General Order No. 02-08-03, III:
A.

“a sworn member is justified in using force likely to cause death or great
bodily harm only when he or she reasonably believes that such force is
necessary:
1.

to prevent death or great bodily harm to the sworn member or to
another person, or;

2.

to prevent an arrest from being defeated by resistance or escape
and the sworn member reasonably believes that the person to be
arrested:
a.

has committed or has attempted to commit a forcible
felony which involved the infliction, threatened infliction,
or threatened use of physical force likely to cause death
or great bodily harm or;

b.

is attempting to escape by use of a deadly weapon or;

c.

otherwise indicates that he or she will endanger human
life or inflict great bodily harm unless arrested without
delay.”

The officers’ actions were in accordance with the requirements of the
Department’s deadly force policy. When the officers arrived at the apartment building
they were informed that Subject 1 had struck a citizen and fired a shotgun at the citizen.
Officers announced their office and upon making entry were immediately fired upon by
Subject 1. Several officers were struck at that time. Officers returned fire and gave
verbal direction for Subject 1 to drop her weapon. Subject 1 responded by again firing at

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 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1007565; U #07-23
CONCLUSION AND FINDING: (Continued)
the officers, and she continued making efforts to fire at officers even after she herself
sustained gunshot wounds.
When they fired, the officers reasonably believed that they and others were in
danger of death or great bodily harm from Subject 1. Subject 1 committed a forcible
felony when she repeatedly fired at the officers. Subject 1 gave no indication that she
was going to stop firing at the officers and in fact, even after being struck by gunfire,
Subject 1 continued trying to cycle the shotgun in an effort to continue firing at officers.

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