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Illinois Mother's Chicago Wrongful Death Lawsuit Claims Police Brutality Led to Son?s Fatal Shooting

In Cook County Circuit Court, six months after 17-year-old Marvin Williams was shot to death after being apprehended by Chicago police, his mother is suing the city for her son?s wrongful death. The tragic shooting incident happened on September 16, 2008 while he was being arrested.

Chicago police arrived at South Marshfield Avenue after someone reported gunfire. They spotted a vehicle matching the description of one connected to the shooting and pulled it over. Police say that one of the officer?s was confronted by an armed offender and the cop fired his weapon, hitting Marvin. The Cook County medical examiner?s office says the teenager was shot several times. The Independent Police Review Authority has been investigating the shooting incident.

Demetria Williams?s wrongful death lawsuit is accusing the Chicago police of using unnecessary deadly force, recklessly removing the safety of the gun, and intentionally discharging the gun while it was pointed at him. Her complaint is claiming false arrest, false imprisonment, and survival action.

Police Brutality
Chicago police officers are required to restrain themselves from using excessive force when apprehending suspects. Police brutality is a violation of a person?s human rights even if they have been arrested, charged with, or convicted for committing a crime.

According to a Chicago Tribune investigation in 2007, a review of over 200 police shooting cases over a 10-year period revealed that police probes tend to use a separate set of standard of justice. In at least 12 incidents, police officers shot civilians who weren?t even facing them. They have also been known to shoot people who were unarmed and/or innocent.

Out of the 100 people that were killed and the 250 others injured in Chicago police shootings that took place over a decade, less than 1% of these shooting incidents were considered unjustified. Also, during some investigations into police shootings, the newspaper's probe found that witnesses were frequently not sworn in and conversations were not recorded.

Chicago police shootings have resulted in $59 million in police brutality settlements and verdicts against the city of Chicago.

Mom Sues City In September Shooting Death of Son, WBBM Radio, March 7, 2009

The rush to clear police in shootings, Chicago Tribune, December 5, 2007

Related Web Resources:
Chicago Police Department

Chicago's finest under fire for brutality, CNN.com, September 28, 2007

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on March 19, 2009 (boomark / email).