Chicago Sees Surge in Police Shootings as Fatal Incident Puts Total Over Last Year's Count
At least 20 people have been shot by Chicago police officers this year, surpassing last year's total of 12, according to data from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Nine of those incidents were fatal, a sharp increase from last year when six such shootings occurred.
The latest incident in which a man was fatally shot by a Chicago cop happened on Tuesday night in West Ridge during a stolen vehicle investigation. A dark car pulled up near an officer investigating a parked BMW, and two men got out. One of the men tried to re-enter the vehicle while another man attempted to drive away with the 20-year-old inside.
When officers approached, the driver refused to get out and was dragged alongside the vehicle. The officer in question eventually fired his gun once, striking the 20-year-old in the head and causing the car to crash into a parked car. The victim was pronounced dead at Illinois Masonic Medical Center, while the woman in the car with him was taken into custody.
Two guns were recovered from the scene, and an officer sustained minor injuries but was treated for their own medical needs. The incident has sparked concerns among residents of the area, who described it as unusual and unexpected.
In a separate incident early Sunday in Morgan Park, another shooting occurred when a man attempted to break into his neighbor's home. The neighbor shot back, leading one of the officers involved in the altercation to fire shots that hit the suspect and an 18-year-old bystander.
The officer involved was not seriously injured, while the other two were taken to medical facilities for treatment. The suspect has been charged with various crimes related to the incident, including attempted murder and home invasion.
As Chicago grapples with rising tensions between law enforcement and the community, the surge in police shootings serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater accountability and understanding between these groups.
At least 20 people have been shot by Chicago police officers this year, surpassing last year's total of 12, according to data from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Nine of those incidents were fatal, a sharp increase from last year when six such shootings occurred.
The latest incident in which a man was fatally shot by a Chicago cop happened on Tuesday night in West Ridge during a stolen vehicle investigation. A dark car pulled up near an officer investigating a parked BMW, and two men got out. One of the men tried to re-enter the vehicle while another man attempted to drive away with the 20-year-old inside.
When officers approached, the driver refused to get out and was dragged alongside the vehicle. The officer in question eventually fired his gun once, striking the 20-year-old in the head and causing the car to crash into a parked car. The victim was pronounced dead at Illinois Masonic Medical Center, while the woman in the car with him was taken into custody.
Two guns were recovered from the scene, and an officer sustained minor injuries but was treated for their own medical needs. The incident has sparked concerns among residents of the area, who described it as unusual and unexpected.
In a separate incident early Sunday in Morgan Park, another shooting occurred when a man attempted to break into his neighbor's home. The neighbor shot back, leading one of the officers involved in the altercation to fire shots that hit the suspect and an 18-year-old bystander.
The officer involved was not seriously injured, while the other two were taken to medical facilities for treatment. The suspect has been charged with various crimes related to the incident, including attempted murder and home invasion.
As Chicago grapples with rising tensions between law enforcement and the community, the surge in police shootings serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater accountability and understanding between these groups.
... 20 people shot by cops this year already? That's 9 fatal incidents, which is insane considering we're only halfway through the year. It's like the city is feeling the pressure of all these unaddressed issues. I mean, have you noticed how long it takes to see real change in our justice system? We keep talking about reform and accountability, but it feels like nothing ever gets done.
its just like what if they tried talking to them first lol? but seriously, 20 people already shot by cops this year is insane 
i need to know more about the civilian office of police accountability tho, how does it work? 
and another thing, whats with all these guns being recovered at the scene? is it like a big problem in chicago or what? 
. Can't we find a way to de-escalate these situations before they escalate into violence? I'm all for accountability, but not at the cost of innocent lives 
. Anyway, seriously though, it's a total shame what's happening there. All this tension and stuff is no good for anyone. I'm just saying, if someone tries to break into your neighbor's house, maybe don't shoot them back... unless you're like a real-life superhero or something 
.
I mean, who needs that many guns just lying around? But at the same time, like, if some cop is gonna pull his gun and hit someone in the head, shouldn't they be held accountable? 
It's all about balance, right? Maybe more training would help? Or maybe less cops on the streets would reduce the incidents? Ugh, my brain hurts trying to figure it out... 
. It's not just the fatalities that are the problem, it's the fact that we don't know what led to these incidents in the first place. Was it fear? Miscommunication? Something else entirely? We need to get to the bottom of this and work towards building trust between law enforcement and the community again 
.
20 people shot by cops already this year is wild and 9 of them fatal 
it feels like every time you turn around there's another incident happening somewhere in the city... the thing is though we need to talk about why this is even happening in the first place 
. you never know what's gonna happen when you're trying to do something right, like calling the cops on a stolen car. it's not right that he lost his life over that.
. like, can't we all just get along and not try to pull off a bada$$ heist at 10pm on a tuesday? 
seriously though, 20 people shot by chicago cops this year is crazy, i mean 12 last year was already way too much 
.