A 55-year-old mother of 5 and a 19-year-old college student were both shot and killed by Chicago police Saturday morning. And another person was shot and critically wounded by police. The police involved shootings all happened within a 12 hour time period.
According to reports, the father of 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier called police saying his son was threatening him with a baseball bat. When police arrived, the father in an upstairs appartment called to his downstairs neighbor, Bettie Jones and asked her to open the door for police. When 55-year-old Jones opened the door, witnesses said Quintonio came running down the stairs. Police opened fire, killing both Bettie Jones and Quintonio LeGrier.
The police department released a statement saying, “upon arrival, officers were confronted by a combative subject resulting in the discharging of the officer’s weapon which fatally wounded two individuals.” The statement continued, “the 55 year old female victim was accidentally struck and tragically killed. The department extends it’s deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends.”
“He was having a mental situation” said Quintonio’s mother, Janet Cooksey. “Sometimes he would get a little loud, but not violent.” Cooksey went on to say she saw her son on Christmas but after the shooting, viewed his body at the hospital and that Quintonio was shot 7 times.
For their work protecting and serving the citizens of Chicago, the police involved in the shootings will be placed on desk duty for 30 days while an investigation into the shooting proceeds.
