Personal Injury Law Blog
“A code of silence”: Lawsuit filed over teen’s death at police hands in 2014
The mother of a teenager who was shot and killed by police on Chicago’s West Side has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the force.
Roshad McIntosh was killed in August 2014. At a news conference, his mother, Cynthia Lane, said that police have not revealed the names of the officers who fired the shots that killed him, nor whether they have been disciplined or are still on duty. The lawsuit alleges that McIntosh was killed without provocation, and it further claims that authorities have since tried to cover up the incident.
According to the lawsuit, which names as defendants two “John Doe” police officers as well as the city of Chicago, McIntosh was unarmed when police officers chased him with weapons drawn. The lawsuit claims that officers chased McIntosh into a backyard, where he surrendered, but the officers shot and killed him without response.
Police claim that McIntosh had a 9mm handgun that he pointed at officers, leaving the officers no choice but to fire their weapons. McIntosh was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.
The lawsuit also claims civil rights violations, alleging that policies of the Chicago Police Department have led to racially-motivated shootings of black men and a “code of silence” when it comes to investigating and disciplining officers.
Paul Greenberg is a Chicago work accidents and wrongful death lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit https://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.
