The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) on Wednesday released video and other materials related to a fatal police shooting that occurred in the Austin neighborhood on September 6, revealing new details about the chaotic encounter.
A Chicago police officer fatally shot a driver after the suspect’s vehicle reportedly reversed into and pinned the officer during a burglary investigation.
The Incident Details
The shooting took place in the 800 block of North Waller Avenue as officers responded to a reported burglary in progress involving suspects inside a vehicle.
According to COPA, two squad cars blocked the suspect’s vehicle. Newly released footage shows officers with guns drawn, loudly yelling commands and pulling on the car’s door handles.
The key moment occurred when the vehicle started moving. An officer who rounded the back of the car was reportedly struck.
A loud crash is heard, followed immediately by the officer screaming in pain. The officer then fired approximately 11 rounds through the vehicle’s rear window, fatally striking the driver.
The injured officer was later recorded telling a colleague, “They hit me with the car.”
The officer was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries to his back and legs.
A police traffic crash report released by COPA stated the driver “intentionally reverse[d]” into the officer, “causing him to be pinned” between two vehicles.
Suspects and Evidence
Dashcam footage shows officers removing two men from the vehicle’s front passenger side. One of the men told officers he had been shot, and blood drops were visible on the pavement. A third person managed to flee from the rear driver-side door and was not apprehended.
COPA confirmed that a gun was recovered at the scene. Two officers were hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries. COPA’s investigation into the officer’s use of force is ongoing.
Watch the video below.
