Third Chicago Officer Relieved Of Police Powers After Shooting
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The third Chicago Police officer involved in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old man Thursday night in the South Shore neighborhood has been relieved of his police powers.
The other two officers who opened fire on Paul O'Neal in the 7300 block of South Merrill were reassigned to administrative duty late Friday.
"I am left with more questions, than answers," Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said Sunday. 'Departmental policies may have been violated during this incident."
Johnson said the officers involved all have been on the force for three years or less.
"I know how quickly you have to make decisions," Johnson said. "So if it's an honest mistake, then we will get them training, coaching, mentoring and get them back out there. If it's intentional misconduct, they have to be held accountable for it.'
Autopsy results released Saturday showed O'Neal was shot in the back.
Johnson said he spent hours reviewing video evidence, including dash and officer body camera footage.
The shooting happened about 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the 7300 block of South Merrill, where officers tried to pull over a Jaguar convertible reported stolen earlier that day, according to police.
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The Jaguar was blocked in, but the officers opened fire when the driver tried to take off. He crashed into a parked vehicle, police said.
O'Neal, of the 1700 block of East 70th Street, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he died at 9:08 p.m.
"I would like to offer my condolences to the O'Neal family," Johnson said. "Whenever a mother or father loses a child, it leaves a lasting absence that can't be replaced."
The other person in the car, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested and charged with a felony count of possession of a stolen vehicle, police said Saturday. His court information was not immediately available. It wasn't clear who was the driver.
