It was a bloody weekend in Chicago, with nearly two dozen people shot and three killed, showing the immense amount of crime and violence wracking Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Chicago. But not all the injuries were inflicted by criminals; a rideshare driver attacked by two brigands was able to use a firearm to stay safe.
That occurred at about 1 am on Saturday, when the 26-year-old rideshare driver had dropped off a passenger and a man and woman approached his vehicle. The man was armed, and the crime-minded duo of brigands took the phone of the driver and fired multiple gunshots into the air.
That’s when the rideshare driver determined that not only was his life in danger, but that he had an opportunity to fight back. So, acting quickly, he drew his own firearm and fired back. He hit the man in the chest, wounding him severely, and grazed the woman in the arm.
Police and emergency responders soon arrived and the man with the serious injury was transported to the hospital for treatment. He is now in good condition. The woman with the graze wound refused treatment. The driver, who had a concealed carry license, was not injured. The man who attacked him was determined to be 20 years old and the woman who was grazed by one of his rounds is 18 years old.
Surprisingly, self-defense is legal in Chicago. The law in Illinois, however, is stricter than in some states. It requires the person using self-defense as a defense to show that “There was a grave and immediate threat to the accused, another person, or the accused’s property; The threat was illegal; The accused believed that there was a danger present that required force; and The accused used force that was equivalent to the threat.”
Adding more context, a Chicago-area law firm notes that “Whether the force was necessary depends on the facts and circumstances of the case. In general, if a reasonable person in the same situation would have reacted similarly, a judge or jury would likely find that the force was necessary. The force that is used against the victim must be similar to the force that victim was using. To illustrate, it would be disproportionate to fire a gun at someone who had thrown a single punch.”
As the crime-minded couple fired shots into the air while robbing the rideshare driver, his return fire likely met the requirements under even Illinois law, particularly as most people with a firearm would have responded in the same way if robbed and threatened in such a manner.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has made excuses for the criminals causing chaos in his city, saying, for example, “it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities.”
Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, around the same time, also stood up for the criminals, saying, “We have taken steps, and will take steps to address these teen trends. It’s not the first time that we’ve addressed these issues, but our young people have an opportunity and a right to enjoy the entirety of our city, but they have to do it in a way that is respectful for people and property. And we did address that over the weekend, and we will continue to address it. The vast majority of young people that came downtown because it was a great weather and an opportunity to enjoy the city, that’s absolutely entirely appropriate. There are a few that came with different intentions, and they have, and they will be dealt with.”
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