A Chicago police officer fatally shot a man Tuesday night on the North Side during an investigation into a stolen vehicle. The incident, which left one officer with minor injuries, is now being reviewed by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA).
What Happened
At approximately 10:25 p.m., tactical officers were investigating a stolen, unoccupied sedan in the 5700-block of North Washtenaw Avenue in West Ridge. A second dark-colored sedan pulled alongside the stolen car. Two men and a woman were inside the second car.
Police say the two men exited the dark sedan and tried to get into the stolen vehicle, which appeared to be a white BMW.
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Officers approached, and one man immediately fled on foot.
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The second man got back into the dark sedan.
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When officers told the man to get out, he refused, leading to a struggle.
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During the struggle, the man accelerated the vehicle, dragging the officer.
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The officer fired his weapon, hitting the man in the head.
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The sedan then crashed into a parked, unoccupied car.
The wounded man was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. His identity has not yet been released. The officer suffered minor injuries and was also transported to a hospital.
Aftermath and Investigation
A woman was taken into custody at the scene, and police recovered two firearms. The stolen vehicle was towed away on Wednesday.
The shooting is currently under investigation by COPA, the independent agency that handles police misconduct cases.
A neighbor, David, said the stolen car had been in the area for a few days. “I’m glad the cop wasn’t hurt,” he said. “I’m glad the cop got the guy… but what are you going to do?”
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