Several investigations were underway Sunday after a Chicago man accused of illegally traveling between two train cars was shot and killed by police in a cell-phone altercation that the mayor described as “extremely disturbing”.
The unidentified man was in critical condition at Northwestern Hospital, police said. The two officers involved in the Friday incident were limited from their duties on the ground and placed on administrative duties pending the outcome of the investigations.
The shooting took place hours after Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago police and the Chicago Transit Authority announced a comprehensive plan to combat crime in public transit.
The incident started when two officers assigned to the transit unit tried to prevent the man from moving between the cars, which violates a city ordinance, police said. A fight ensued at the Grand Red Line station as they attempted to stop it at the foot of an escalator.
The video shows the two officers firing their Taser at the man. You can hear two shots, but in the chaos, it is not clear which officer is firing. Police said one of the officers shot the man twice.
“I have seen the widely shared footage of the police shooting at the CTA station,” said Mayor Lori Lightfoot. “With the strong warning that one prospect does not represent the entire incident, the video is extremely disturbing and the actions of these officers are deeply worrying.”
Police and administrative investigations are underway, said the police. The incident was also the subject of an independent investigation by the Civilian Bureau of Police Responsibility “in order to guarantee the public a complete picture of what happened,” said Lightfoot.
Acting police superintendent Charlie Beck “is extremely concerned and has important questions” about the incident, police said in a statement.
Beck promised full police support for the investigations.
A few hours earlier, the city unveiled its plan to ensure the security of the public transportation network. Four detectives and a crime analyst will be able to monitor more than 32,000 cameras in real time on all trains and buses, at stations and elsewhere. The goal, said Beck, was to provide faster responses to violent crime in the public transportation system.
“With over a million passengers a day, the safety and security of the traveling public is extremely important to us,” said Beck.