Protesters March To Home Of Cop Who Shot, Killed Lawndale Woman

By aaroncynic in News on Mar 29, 2012 6:20PM

Around 200 family, friends and community activists rallied outside the home of a Chicago police officer who shot and killed a woman in Lawndale last week. According to police, an off-duty Chicago detective, made a stop around 1 a.m. last Sunday to investigate a reported disturbance near Douglas Park. After identifying himself as a police officer, officials say a 39-year-old man came towards the vehicle with a weapon. The detective opened fire and struck 22-year-old Rekia Boyd in the head. She died the next day at Mount Sinai Hospital

Antonio Cross, the intended target of the detective’s fire, who was struck by a bullet in the hand spoke at the rally, maintained his innocence. Cross said, “I want people to know I didn’t have no gun. She didn’t have no gun. I want people to know that girl was killed for nothing.” Chicago Police admitted Boyd was an innocent bystander and no weapon was discovered at the scene of the shooting.

Alderman Michael Chandler spoke out as well, WBEZ reports. Chandler said “A young person’s life [has been] taken away and there is not one person that has been out on these streets to canvass the area to talk to any of these witnesses.” Boyd’s shooting is one of several by Chicago police recently.