Man charged with murder of CPD Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso pleads not guilty
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The man charged with killing Chicago Police Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges on Wednesday.
Steven Montano, 18, appeared for arraignment Wednesday morning, after he was formally indicted in late March on 30 felony counts, including multiple counts of murder and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
He is accused of shooting and killing Vásquez Lasso while the officer was responding to a call about a domestic incident on March 1. Vásquez Lasso also shot Montano.
Prosecutors said Montano fired five shots, hitting the officer three times. Vásquez Lasso managed to fire twice, critically injuring Montano, who spent weeks in the hospital before he was moved to Cook County Jail. Wednesday's hearing was the first time he appeared in court in person in this case.
More than a dozen Chicago police officers filled the courtroom to show their support for Vásquez Lasso during the hearing.
During Montano's arraignment hearing, prosecutors and defense attorneys both asked the judge to sign an order which would delay the release of any relevant videos or info related to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability investigation and possible FOIA requests.
Montano spent weeks in the hospital recovering from gunshot wounds before being transferred to the Cook County Jail where he's been ever since.
After Montano's arraignment on Wednesday, the judge allowed five of Montano's family members to come into the courtroom and actually hug him - as the judge had done for relatives of every other defendant in court. Several women filed in first, followed by an older man, believed to be Montano's father, who walked in with his arms wide open, almost yelling something to Montano. It wasn't clear if his expressions were out of anger or love, but he wouldn't let go, even as the judge ordered him to do so.
The judge initially held Montano's father in contempt of court, but dropped that charge after speaking with him about the incident.
Montano is due back in court on June 7.
