Nine Arrested In Commotion After Chicago Cops Shoot And Kill Suspect

By aaroncynic in News on Dec 17, 2012 9:20PM

Nine people were arrested after a near-riot broke out on Saturday following an attempted robbery that culminated in police shooting a man armed only with a flashlight. Police were chasing an SUV with five suspects inside, when the SUV lost control and four of the suspects fled the scene. However, one suspect, Jamaal Moore, may have been struck by a responding police car, according to DNAinfo, and Moore fought back as two officers attempted to arrest him.

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said the male officer was thrown to the ground twice. "The officer was thrown around like a rag doll," he said. Moore was carrying a flashlight, but the officer shouted that he had a gun. The other officer, a female, fired twice, killing him. No gun was recovered from Moore. According to the Chicago Tribune, previous court records listed Moore as 6-foot-1 weighing 205 pounds. “It was reported as a gunpoint robbery so the officers had good reason to believe that there was a gun there,” McCarthy said.

A crowd gathered after the shooting and a confrontation with police ensued. Some bystanders in the crowd said that Moore had been handcuffed at the time he was shot. Superintendent McCarthy denied this, telling the Tribune “To my knowledge, it’s nothing about handcuffs. There is in-car video that is going to support this detailed story.” Meanwhile, some in the crowd threw bottles and bricks at police. At least five of the nine arrested at the scene face misdemeanor charges of mob action and other charges including resisting arrest, simple assault, and obstructing an officer.

Watch video from the altercation on 55th Street, and see more video on DNAinfo's website.