INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1045759 / U # 11-26
INVESTIGATION
NUMBER:
Log #1045759 / U #11-26
OFFICER
INVOLVED:

“Officer A” (Chicago Police Officer); Male/Black; 60 years old;
Off-Duty; Civilian Dress; Year of Appointment – 2003

OFFICER’S
INJURIES:

Abrasions to the elbow.

SUBJECT:

“Subject 1”; Male/Black; 17 years old

SUBJECTS
INJURIES:

Gunshot wound - graze to right index finger.

LOCATION:

6243 S. Vernon Avenue – alley.

DATE/TIME:

30 May 2011, at approximately 1815hrs.

1

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1045759 / U # 11-26
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

On 30 May 2011, at approximately 1815 hours, Officer A was off-duty and driving his
personal vehicle (2006 Lexus, IL plates, Lic # XXXXX XX) eastbound on 60th when he
noticed a male, now known as Subject 1, firing a weapon westbound toward King Drive.
After shooting several rounds, Subject 1, along with a second male, got onto bikes and
rode southbound on Vernon Avenue. Officer A pursued them in his personal vehicle.
After the second male halted his bike in front of a building, Officer A followed Subject 1
into an alleyway at 62nd and Vernon Avenue. Officer A stopped his vehicle at the mouth
of the alley, exited the vehicle, unholstered his weapon, announced that he was a police
officer, and ordered Subject 1 to put his hands on the fence. Subject 1 complied and upon
being searched, a revolver was recovered from his pocket. Officer A placed the revolver
in his own pocket, out of Subject 1’s sight, and then ordered Subject 1 to lay on the
ground next to an open door of the vehicle.
Officer A placed his knee on Subject 1’s back, switched his weapon from his dominant
right hand to his left hand, and then reached for his cell phone inside of the car. Officer A
called for assistance for a man with a gun and then placed the phone back inside the
vehicle. Officer A later related that Subject 1 stated “When I get my wind, I’m gonna
take that gun away from you”. As Officer A attempted to switch his weapon back to his
right hand, Subject 1 pushed up and turned toward Officer A. A struggle ensued as both
men got to their feet and struggled to take control of the weapon. Fearing for his life,
Officer A fired his weapon. After the shot, both men fell to the ground and continued to
struggle.
Shortly thereafter, on-duty officers arrived at the scene and placed Subject 1 in handcuffs.
Officer A sustained scratches and bruises to his elbow and experienced chest pain
following the struggle. Subject 1 sustained a gunshot wound described as a graze to his
right index finger. 1

1

The information for the Summary of Incident was obtained from the Chicago Police Department’s Case
Supplementary Report and the Major Incident Notification Detail Report. At the time of this incident, the
Roundtable Panel was no longer being conducted and the IPRA had not yet implemented the post-shooting
report that is completed after a police involved shooting. The post shooting report was implemented in
August 2011.

2

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1045759 / U # 11-26
INVESTIGATION:
The Department Reports name Subject 1 as the offender in this incident.
The reports further indicate that Subject 1 was shot by off-duty CPD Officer A after he
(Subject 1) attempted to obtain the officer’s weapon. The Department reports are
consistent with the summary within this report and the statement provided by the
involved officer.
The OEMC Reports were collected and included in this case file. An
analysis of said documents show no information that is inconsistent with the facts as
related by the involved officer.
The Tactical Response Report submitted by Officer A documented that
the subject (Subject 1) “did not follow verbal direction”, “pulled away”, was an
“imminent threat of battery”, “attacked with weapon”, and “used force likely to cause
death or great bodily harm”. Officer A responded with “member presence”, “verbal
commands”, and the use of his “firearm”.
The Officer’s Battery Report submitted by Officer A documented that he
received non-fatal minor injuries. The offender used his “hands/fists” to injure Officer A
and attempted to obtain Officer A’s weapon.
The Arrest Report of Subject 1 documented that he was arrested for
possession/use of a firearm and attempting to disarm a police officer. The narrative of the
report contained essentially the same information as in the summary.
IPRA investigators conducted canvasses in an attempt to locate
witnesses and/or evidence. No additional information was obtained.
During a personal visit to Saint Bernard Hospital to obtain information
regarding Subject 1’s medical status, Doctor A stated that Subject 1 sustained a
superficial wound to his right index finger. Doctor A was unable to determine whether
the wound was caused by a bullet from a firearm. Doctor A stated that he treated Subject
1 and then released him to police custody.
Attempts to interview Subject 1 were unsuccessful.
In an audio recorded statement to IPRA, Officer A related the facts
concerning his involvement in this event in a manner consistent with the Departmental
Reports and the summary contained within this report. Additionally, Officer A stated
that when his weapon was discharged, Subject 1’s right shoulder was pressed against
Officer A’s chest. Both men had their hands on the weapon, and the firearm was pointed
upwards.
Illinois State Police Forensic Science Laboratory Reports documented
the examination of the recovered ballistic evidence in comparison to the firearm

3

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1045759 / U # 11-26
belonging to Officer A and the firearm belonging to the offender, Subject 1. It was
determined that one cartridge case was fired from Officer A’s Beretta 9mm pistol, SER #
354587; and six cartridge casings were fired from the offender’s Con Prod Inc .22
revolver, SER # defaced.

It was also determined that the back of Subject 1’s right hand contained a
minimum of three(3) tri-component and additional consistent primer gunshot residue
(PGSR) particles. It was concluded that Subject 1 either discharged a firearm, had contact
with a PGSR related item, or had both hands in the environment of a discharged firearm.

4

 INDEPENDENT POLICE REVIEW AUTHORITY
Log #1045759 / U # 11-26
CONCLUSION AND FINDING:
This investigation found that the use of deadly force by Officer A was Justified
and in compliance with Chicago Police Department policy and Illinois State statutes.
According to the Chicago Police Department’s General Order 03-02-03, 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.”

Subject 1 was pursued by Officer A after being observed discharging several rounds from
a firearm. Upon being searched, a .22 caliber revolver was recovered from his pocket.
While waiting for police assistance, Subject 1 attempted to obtain Officer A’s weapon. In
fear for his life, Officer A discharged the firearm, grazing Subject 1’s right index finger.
Subject 1 was taken into custody.
Department reports and Illinois State Police Forensic Science Laboratory Reports support
the account provided by Officer A.

5