Independent Police Review Authority
Log#1024613/U# 09-08
INVESITGATION
SUBJECT:

OFFICER
INVOLVED#1:

U# 09-08, Log #1024613

“Officer A” (Chicago Police Officer); Female/Black; 34 years
old; Off Duty; In Uniform; Year of Appointment – 2002

OFFICER #1’S
INJURIES:

None reported

SUBJECT:

“Subject 1”; Male/Black; 23 years old

SUBJECT’S
INJURIES:

Gunshot wound to right side, exiting front pelvic area; one
gunshot wound to upper back, lodged left of spine.

INITIAL
INCIDENT:

Burglary

DATE/TIME
OF INCIDENT:

12 March 2009 at approximately 0749 hours

LOCATION:

7XXX S. green
Beat 0621

 Independent Police Review Authority
Log#1024613/U# 09-08
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

On 12 March 2009, at approximately 0700 hours, Officer A left her
residence at 7XXX S. Green, 2nd Floor, with her thirteen year old daughter.
Officer A was going to drop off her daughter and then go to work at the 011th
District Station, where she is assigned to the 2nd Watch. Officer A was wearing
her uniform under a waist-length civilian jacket. She wore a CPD turtleneck, with
her star worn around her neck. Her pistol was in a pocket of her cargo pants
because her holster and belt were at the district station.

As Officer A drove north on the Dan Ryan Expressway she received a
phone call from her home alarm service, Emergency 24. Emergency 24 told
Officer A that her house alarm indicated a break-in at her front door. Officer A
turned around at 22nd Street, drove home, and parked behind her residence,
leaving her daughter in her vehicle.

Officer A approached her front door and observed pry marks on the door
and wood fragments on the landing. Officer A drew her gun and entered her
residence. Officer A identified herself as the “police” and yelled, “If you’re still in
here, come out!” Officer A did a cursory search of the first and second floors and
returned to the first floor living room, where she was going to call “911 from her
home phone.”

 Independent Police Review Authority
Log#1024613/U# 09-08
Officer A heard commotion and observed a male subject 1 walking down
the stairs from the second floor and carrying a red tote bag. Officer A drew her
gun and pointed it at Subject 1. Officer A told Subject 1 to stop. Subject 1
reached into the red tote bag and Officer A fired twice at him. Subject 1 ran out
the open front door. Officer A fired at Subject 1 again while he was on the landing
outside the front door. Subject 1 ran down the stairs and turned on the next
landing, continuing to run as Officer A continued to fire at him. Subject 1 fell onto
the grass north of the concrete at the bottom of the stairs. Officer A ordered
Subject 1 to show his hands but he rolled over. Officer A fired at Subject 1 again
while his hands were positioned inside or near his bag.

Subject 1 got up from the ground and ran out the front yard. Officer A lost
sight of Subject 1, returned to her residence, and called “911.” Subject 1 was
arrested in the rear yard of 76XX S. Sangamon. Subject 1 was transported via
ambulance to Christ Hospital. The red bag was recovered at the rear of 76XX S.
Peoria which contained a screwdriver, pry bar, and jewelry that Officer A
identified as having been taken from her residence. The bag also contained
Officer A’s daughter’s social security card. The bag was apparently dropped at
the Peoria Address as Subject 1 fled west from Green, and finally stopping at the
Sangamon address.

1

Now identified at Subject 1 through Department Reports.

 Independent Police Review Authority
Log#1024613/U# 09-08
INVESTIGATION:
Witness 1 related to the Roundtable Panel that he was asleep in his
apartment at the time of the incident. Witness 1 was awakened by approximately
six gunshots and then heard police cars in the neighborhood. Witness 1 also
heard screams near his residence. Witness 1 looked out of his apartment and
saw a male 2 lying at the bottom of his rear stairs. Witness 1 went outside and
asked Subject 1 what was going on and Subject 1 asked for help. Witness 1 went
inside his residence and called “911.” Witness 1 returned outside and asked
Subject 1 if he knew who shot him but Subject 1 did not know. Subject 1 crawled
on the ground while in the backyard. Witness 1 picked up Subject 1 from behind
and set him down on the back stairs of his residence. Officers and paramedics
arrived. Witness 1 stated that he did not know Subject 1. (Att.5)

Witness 2 related to the Roundtable Panel that he parked his vehicle
near 76XX S. Green. Witness 2 opened his front gate and then heard gunshots.
He went to his front porch and observed a male subject 3 running with arms held
up against his chest. Witness 2 saw a female black subject 4 following Subject 1
on foot. Witness 2 stated that Officer A and Subject 1 spoke to each other during
the chase but he could not hear what was said. Witness 2 then heard three to
four gunshots while he observed Subject 1 running. Officer A stood on Green
street while holding a gun in her hand and pointing it at Subject 1 as he ran.

2

Identified at Subject 1 through Department Reports.
Identified at Subject 1 through Department Reports.
4
Identified as Officer A through Department Reports.
3

 Independent Police Review Authority
Log#1024613/U# 09-08
Witness 2 was not sure if he saw Officer A actually firing the gun then. After the
incident, Officer A then walked east from her position on Green. (Att.5)

CPD Detective 1 related to the Roundtable Panel that he spoke to
Subject 1 at Christ Hospital.

Subject 1 related that he was shot during an

argument with a male he knew as “[Nickname]” and “[Nickname].” Both males
were selling drugs at 78th and Morgan and argued over money. Subject 1 stated
that he was shot nine times and could not recall how he was brought to the
hospital. (Att.5)

The Report from the Deputy Chief of Patrol A included an account of
the incident that is consistent with the Summary of Incident. Deputy Chief of
Patrol A added that when Subject 1 reached in the red bag, Officer A realized
that Subject 1 may have taken a second weapon she kept in her apartment and
in fear of her life discharged her weapon. (Att.4)

The Tactical Response Report (TRR) from Officer A indicates that she
fired her weapon ten times at Subject 1.

Officer A’s Battery Report (OBR) indicates that she did not sustain any
apparent injuries.

 Independent Police Review Authority
Log#1024613/U# 09-08
The related Department Reports, including the Arrest Report,
Original Case Incident Report, and Supplementary Report, included an
account of the incident that is consistent with the Summary of Incident. The
Supplementary Report added that Subject 1 was in possession of a door lock
cylinder. Subject 1 was charged with Aggravated Assault/Officer/Fireman and
Residential Burglary. (Att.8,9

Evidence Technician Photographs and videotape depict what appear
to be the location of incident, the recovered evidence, and photographs of
Subject 1. (Att.36,72)

The Crime Scene Processing Report indicates that a 9mm Smith &
Wesson, Model #6946, belonging to Officer A, was inventoried under number
11610844. (Att.35)

A canvass was conducted but no additional witnesses were located who
witnessed the incident. (Att.18,19,50)

The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) EMS Incident Report indicates
that on 12 March 2009, at 0749 hours, EMT’s responded to the scene and
observed Subject 1 lying on some stairs with a gunshot wound to his lower right
flank area. Subject 1 stated that he heard up to seven shots. EMT’s also noted a

 Independent Police Review Authority
Log#1024613/U# 09-08
gunshot wound to Subject 1’s left mid-back, just left of his spine. Subject 1 was
transported to Christ Hospital. (Att.41)

Medical Records from Christ Hospital indicates that Subject 1 was
brought into the hospital with a gunshot wounds. Subject 1 was diagnosed with a
penetrating gunshot wound to his RLQ (Right Lower Quadrant) abdomen, “TS”
left paraspinal region, and right suprapubic graze wound. (Att.70,71)

A Report from the Illinois State Police (ISP), Division of Forensic
Services, dated 08 April 2009, indicates that Officer A’s weapon, a 9mm
semiautomatic pistol, Smith & Wesson, Model 6946, Serial Number VJC9797,
was found examined, found to be in firing condition, and test fired. (Att.42)

 Independent Police Review Authority
Log#1024613/U# 09-08
CONCLUSION AND FINDING:
This investigation found that the use of deadly force by Officer A was in
compliance with Chicago Police Department policy and Illinois State statutes.
According to the Chicago Police Department’s General Order 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 involves 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.”