3rd Chicago cop relieved of powers over shooting

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson on Saturday relieved a third officer of his police powers in the death of a suspect after autopsy results showed the 18-year-old died of a gunshot wound to the back.

Johnson’s move came hours after the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Paul O’Neal’s death a homicide.

In a statement, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Superintendent Johnson spent hours reviewing video evidence with other officials after the release of the autopsy report.

Although a formal investigation is still ongoing, “Johnson has pledged that CPD will conduct a thorough and fact based administrative review,” Guglielmi said.

Two other officers were relieved of their powers Friday.

O’Neal, of Chicago, was shot Thursday night during a stolen-vehicle investigation in the city’s South Shore neighborhood.

Authorities have said officers stopped a Jaguar convertible that had been reported stolen. Police said officers opened fire after the driver, identified as O’Neal, put the car in drive and sideswiped a squad car and a parked vehicle. He later was pronounced dead at a hospital.

O’Neal was black; police have not provided any identifying information about the officers who were involved.

The handling of officer-involved shootings in Chicago has come under intense scrutiny since the release last November of a video that shows a white officer fatally shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times.