Chicago Man Freed From Prison After Serving 14 Years For Crime He Didn't Commit
(CBS) -- A Chicago man is free tonight, after serving nearly 15 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.
Norman McIntosh walked out of Stateville Correctional Center this afternoon, CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports.
He was sentenced to 45 years in prison for a November 2001 murder. He always maintained his innocence and after years of fighting today he won his freedom.
He said he spent a total of 14 years and 9 months in prison, dreaming of his freedom. He was convicted in 2003 of killing a man in a drive-by shooting.
And when he heard the verdict, he says, "...just felt like no one was listening. Because stuff was coming out then, but it seemed like no one cared because they just wanted to convict somebody."
Today the state vacated McIntosh's conviction. He got the news around 11 a.m., but he didn't believe it.
"...that's why I called my attorney. My mom told me, I didn't believe it. I called my attorney to make sure," he said.
McIntosh's attorney Jennifer Blagg confirmed it, and was there to pick him up as he walked out of Stateville Correctional Center--still not believing he was finally free.
"It seems like they're going to come out here and say they made a mistake or something. So I just want to get away from here as fast as possible," he said.
McIntosh says his first priority is reconnecting with his family--including his 14 year old son Hassan who was born after McIntosh went to jail.
McIntosh says he also wants to spend as much time as he can with his father who has cancer, and was expected to die last year, but vowed to hang on until his son was free.
