CPD officer shoots, seriously wounds man in North Lawndale
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Chicago police officer shot and seriously wounded a man Monday afternoon in the North Lawndale neighborhood.
Chicago Fire Department officials said a man in his 20s was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious to critical condition, after he was shot in the 2100 block of South Saint Louis Avenue.
CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reports the Civilian Office Of Police Accountability (COPA) is investigating what led to a police shooting. CBS 2 spoke with two women who identified themselves as the sisters of the 25-year-old man who was shot.
The Chicago Fire Department said it transported a man from the scene in critical condition while the officer who fired his weapon was not injured.
"They were over here talking to a girl about whatever personal situation he had going on," said Alasehir Muhammad, sister of the man shot.
Police sources said a handgun was found by investigators at the scene this afternoon. One police officer who was not injured was taken to the hospital for evaluation — which is per protocol after an officer fires his or her weapon.
The man's family said he is 25-year-old Javontay Kindred and that he lives in the area and was meeting a friend here when he was approached by police.
The family claims he was shot after he ran from police.
"He's stable right now. He's got a chest tube, but he's coming through," said his sister Ebony Chapman.
There is a CPS school in the middle of the crime scene, Crown Community Academy of Fine Arts. Administrators said they brought all students and staff inside the school building after the shots were fired, but have since been given the all clear and everyone is safe.
The principal of Crown Community Academy sent parents a letter telling them all students and staff were brought inside the school when staff heard shots fired.
"CPD informed us that the area was secure and there was no longer a safety threat. The incident was not directly related to our school, and everyone is safe. Out of an abundance of caution, additional safety precautions will be put in place for dismissal, and CPD and CPS security will be on-site to provide support," the letter stated.
CPD released a statement confirming the shooting happened just after 11:30 a.m. and that police were in an unmarked squad car. Police said they saw people near a car that was double-parked. Police said they "attempted to conduct an investigatory stop when an individual fled from the scene while in possession of a firearm."
Police said they followed the man into a vacant lot and then shot him.
