Tag Archives: west side

Police: 5-year-old girl accidentally shot herself on West Side

Police investigate after a 5-year-old girl accidentally shot herself in the abdomen Tuesday night in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. | Network Video Productions

 

(CHICAGO) A 5-year-old girl accidentally shot herself in the abdomen inside an East Garfield Park neighborhood home Tuesday night on the West Side, according to Chicago Police.

She got a hold of a handgun about 8 p.m. at the home in the 3700 block of West Ferdinand, police said.

The girl’s family took her to Rush University Medical Center, and she was transferred to Stroger Hospital in serious condition, police said.

 

West Side leaders demand officer be fired for weekend shootings

(CHICAGO) West Side community leaders on Wednesday demanded an expedited investigation and firing of the Chicago Police officer who shot and killed 55-year-old Bettie Jones and 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

“Why did police shoot, knowing someone unrelated to the incident was in close proximity of LeGrier? And why did they shoot at all? Are there not other ways to disarm someone with a bat?” asked Pierre Keys of We Charge Genocide at a news conference outside 11th Police District headquarters, 3151 W. Harrison.

“Why is only 16 percent of Chicago’s police department trained on how to deal with people mentally challenged,” he asked. “We’re also calling for the resignation of Rahm Emanuel. He only responds to our plight and our struggles when it’s politically expedient.”

The group included elected officials such as state Rep. La Shawn Ford, who recently introduced a bill that would allow Chicagoans to recall/fire their mayor, and prominent ministers such as Ira Acree, pastor of Greater St. John Bible Church and chair of the West Side Leader’s Network of churches.

The group demanded that the department publicly identify the officer who shot Jones and LeGrier early Saturday. The officer is assigned to administrative duties for 30 days under new Chicago Police Department protocols.

“We are concerned citizens of the West Side, where this heinous act on Dec. 26th happened. We are businessmen. We are tax-paying citizens who are sick and tired of being sick and tired,” said Marseil Jackson, director of the youth division of the Leaders Network and founder of the Jackson Action Coalition.

“It’s a sad day in America when I cannot call 911 to help me because I might get hurt. We want to know who they are protecting and serving,” Jackson said.

In the West Garfield Park incident, LeGrier, an emotionally troubled yet academically gifted Northern Illinois University student reportedly became so agitated that his father called police. Arriving officers “were confronted by a combative subject” and the teen was shot and killed, according to Chicago police.

Jones, a mother of five, was an innocent neighbor in the two-flat building who simply opened the door. Saying she “was accidentally struck and tragically killed,” the police department has apologized.

“I understand the officer said he apologizes, but how can you make a mistake like that? Laquan McDonald did not get a chance to apologize. Bettie Jones, Quintonio LeGrier, did not get a chance to apologize,” said Tio Hardiman of Violence Interrupters Inc.

“I just left Bettie Jones’ home. Her four daughters need a new home. They lost their mother. They lost everything,” he said. “There’s no evidence in the universe that all African-American youth are a threat to the police department. So why are police so trigger-happy to kill them? Why are the shootings that occur in the community a white officer killing an African-American youth?”

Coming a month after the city’s release of the police dashcam video showing the killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald — shot 16 times by officer Jason Van Dyke in October 2014 — the recent incident added fuel to already incendiary police-community relations.

The group of about 20 entered the Harrison District office seeking a meeting with Deputy Chief James Jones. They were asked to wait outside. The group eventually was told to leave a contact and Jones would follow up. The leaders called the treatment “disrespectful” and “representative” of Chicago Police culture. The department did not respond to a request for comment.

“We don’t wish to denigrate or downplay the important role of the police. What we are here to say is unlawful behavior will not be tolerated,” said Gerald Frazier of Dreamz and Visionz. “The mayor in his re-election campaign stood in front of cameras and said he’d listen. Yes, Mr. Emanuel, we did vote for you, 57 percent of African-Americans. Where are you? We’re ready to talk.”

— Chicago Sun-Times

Police warn of West Side robberies

(CHICAGO) Police are warning residents of the West Side of two robberies that occurred on the same day in the Austin and East Garfield Park neighborhoods.

In both incidents on April 27, three males approached a person, implied they were armed with a handgun and demanded the person’s personal property, according to a community alert from Chicago Police.

One robbery happened at 7:51 p.m. in the 4700 block of West Jackson and the other occurred at 11:30 p.m. in the 600 block of South Homan, police said.

The robbers are described as black males, about 28 years old, standing between 5-feet-6 and 5-feet-7, police said.

Anyone with information on the robberies is asked to contact Area North detectives at (312) 744-8263.

West Side teacher dies of heart disease while at school

(CHICAGO) A teacher at a West Side school died at work Tuesday afternoon.

James Dasher, 58, collapsed while at work at Spencer Technology Academy, 214 N. Lavergne, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

He was taken to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park where he was pronounced dead at 3:50 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy found Dasher’s cause of death was organic cardiovascular disease.

This week, a medical emergency took place at Spencer Technology Academy,” a spokeswoman for Chicago Public Schools said in a statement issued Friday morning. “Our thoughts and condolences are with the friends and family of the teacher at this time, and we have provided a crisis team to the school to support students and staff.”

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