Woman Who Shot Self While Hiding Gun In Police Cruiser Charged
CHICAGO (STMW) -- An Avalon Park woman who accidentally shot herself in the back of a Chicago Police cruiser Saturday evening while trying to conceal a handgun from officers has been charged with two felonies.
Tiara M. Paul, 20, was stopped by patrolling officers in the Armour Square neighborhood about 5 p.m. in the 3400 block of South Wentworth Avenue for unsafe crossing between cars on a CTA train, police said.
Paul initially received a misdemeanor charge, but a name check revealed she was wanted on two outstanding warrants for two probation violation arrests, police said.
The officers, who are male, were waiting for a female officer to conduct a search of Paul before taking her to police lockup.
Police said the gun, which Paul had concealed on her body, discharged as she attempted to hide the weapon from police in the officer's cruiser.
She was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, where she was still hospitalized Monday morning, police said.
Paul, of the 1200 block of East 85th Street, was charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon/loaded firearm without a FOID card and felony reckless discharge of a firearm.
Paul's case is expected Monday in bond court.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
