Man dies after Chicago police shooting on South Side, COPA investigating
A man died after being shot by a Chicago Police officer during a domestic incident Thursday morning in the Pullman neighborhood.
Police said they were responding to a domestic dispute. The chain of events had some Pullman neighbors on edge.
"I was scared I didn't know what was going on. So it was like traumatizing a little bit," said Shatiquia Harrington. "My daughter was scared to come out to go to school this morning because we didn't know what was going on."
According to Chicago Police, officers responded to a call in the 900 block of East 100th Street just after 7 a.m. Police said officers found an armed man inside the residence and a woman inside a bedroom, who was soon able to leave the room.
As officer tried to de-escalate the situation, the woman was able to leave the room.
When the man pointed a gun at the officer, police said he opened fire and struck him.
The man, identified as Devon Smith, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center with serious injuries, and was later pronounced dead. The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment.
"I'm just shocked," said Edwin Adams. "Nothing ever happen like this while we've lived over here."
Former first deputy superintendent of Chicago Police Anthony Riccio said when officers respond to domestic situations, they're always unpredictable.
"Most of the officers I talked to would rather run down a dark alley and chase somebody, respond to a robbery call, than go into a domestic situation," said Riccio.
Riccio said the reported pointing of a gun escalated the situation.
"I've never met an officer who wanted to be involved in a shooting, but in this situation, it's clearly a situation where they had to use deadly force — in fear for their lives and in fear for the life of the woman who was a victim in this case as well," said Riccio.
No Chicago Police officers were hurt in the incident. Police said an officer was taken to a nearby hospital for observation.
Police recovered a weapon at the scene.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating this shooting. The officers involved in the shooting will be placed on routine administrative duties for a least a month as COPA investigates.
Police have not yet provided further details on what led up to the shooting.
