Chicago Urban League Calls for an Immediate Independent Investigation into Police-Involved Shooting Deaths of Quintonio Legrier and Bettie Jones

For Immediate Release

Media Contacts:

Paula Thornton-Greear

708-704-9565 (cell)

pgreear@thechicagourbanleague.org

CHICAGO URBAN LEAGUE CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION

INTO POLICE-INVOLVED SHOOTING DEATHS OF QUINTONIO LEGRIER AND BETTIE JONES

CHICAGO (Dec. 26, 2015) – The Chicago Urban League extends its heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of Quintonio LeGrier and Bettie Jones, who were killed by a Chicago Police Department (CPD) officer on December 26, 2015.

CUL is committed to finding an objective determination of the facts. We have serious concerns surrounding the police response that led to the police-involved fatal shootings of LeGrier and Jones. We are also concerned about the immediate CPD pronouncement that the officers were “confronted by a combative subject resulting in the discharging of the officer’s weapon, fatally wounding two individuals.”

The community is frustrated, and rightfully so, due to a clear pattern and practice of police work where shooting is too often the first response regardless of the situation. To ensure that justice is fairly administered, CUL is calling for an independent investigation into this case and, should findings warrant, an independent prosecutor.

The police-involved killings of LeGrier and Jones are yet additional examples of why legislation is needed to improve transparency and accountability from the CPD. Due to a long history of systemic misconduct, the African American community understandably does not trust the CPD to police itself, nor does it trust the Cook County’s State’s Attorney or the Independent Police Review Authority to enforce justice on behalf of its black constituents.

It can no longer be “business as usual” in how these cases are investigated and prosecuted.

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