By John Dempsey, WLS-AM News
(CHICAGO) Jury selection is underway for the federal trial of a Chicago police officer accused of firing into a car full of teenagers in 2013. 42-year old officer Marco Proano is accused of violating the civil rights of several black teenagers when he fired 16 shots into a stolen car that they were in, in December of 2013 near the intersection of 95th and LaSalle.
Two of the teens were wounded. There is dashcam video of what happened. Proano has said he shot because he was trying to protect a teenager who was being dragged by the car. The 42-year old officer is currently under suspension without pay after being indicted last September.
In recommending his firing, the Chicago Police Department’s Independent Police Review Authority noted dash-cam video shows him firing in the direction of a person in the car he claims to be protecting. Defense attorney Dan Herbert has said the shooting was justified because the car was stolen and another officer saw a gun inside.
The City of Chicago has settled a civil lawsuit with the injured teenagers for $360,000.
@ 2017 WLS-AM News
