A video has been released that allegedly shows an off-duty police officer fighting and fatally shooting an alleged robber, in a post from the Civilian Office for Police Accountability (COPA).
COPA released a press release about the video, which says the following
“On January 18, 2023, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) notified COPA of an officer-involved shooting. Based on preliminary information, the incident began when an off-duty officer approached four subjects who appeared to be in an altercation in the 1300 block of West 90th Street.
“Three of the subjects eventually departed and walked west bound on 90th Street. One subject remained and continued to engage with the off-duty officer. As the off-duty officer began to walk away, the subject grabbed her from behind and reached for her weapon, which resulted in a physical struggle. As both parties fell to the ground, the off-duty officer’s weapon discharged, striking the subject, who later succumbed to his injuries.”
According to Breitbart, the officer is heard saying “I’ll kill you,” with the suspect responding, saying, “You’ve got to kill me then.’ Following the first shot, the suspect can be heard saying, “I’m sorry sweetheart.” After the second shot, he says, “Oh s**t, you got me, you got me.”
After the shooting, the off-duty officer can be heard yelling, “You thought I was playing, I told you I’d shoot you…I told your dumb*** I’d shoot you…You tried to steal my [effin] gun,” according to the New York Post.
Watch the incident here:
The alleged robber, 39-year-old Leevon Smith, “succumbed to his injuries,” according to COPA. According to CBS Chicago, the officer did not attempt medical intervention:
“Several minutes passed before an ambulance arrived – and during that time, the officer never rendered any aid to Smith, who was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, initially in serious condition. He died two days later.”
According to the Sun Times, a judge approved felony charges against the alleged robber one day before he passed away. The Smith estate is also said to have filed a $10 million lawsuit against the city of Chicago and the officer involved in the shooting for the death of Leevon Smith. In the suit, the officer is being accused of using “excessive and violent physical force” and the complaint claims that the officer “knew or should have known that such force was not necessary in light of the circumstances.”
According to ABC 7, Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot has been parading around a $410 million plan to fight crime in the city, but only an alarming 6% of that fund has been spent after the first year of the five-year plan.
According to CWB Chicago, those measly investments have not been near enough to curb crime and violence in the city. As of January 10, CWB reported that major crime had seen a 41% increase in the last year, while the police force shrunk by 12%. With those numbers both going in the wrong direction, there is clearly reason to worry about the well-being of residents in the city of Chicago.
Featured image credit: screengrab in embedded video
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