News

Actions

Protests break out in Chicago after a man is fatally shot by police

Posted at 4:31 PM, Jul 15, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-15 19:06:03-04

Protesters chanted and threw rocks at Chicago police Saturday night after an officer shot and killed a man in the city’s South Side hours earlier, authorities said.

At least four people were arrested and several officers were injured, police said.

The incident started as several police officers were patrolling the city’s South Side on foot. They spotted 37-year-old Harith Augustus, “who they thought might be armed” and approached him, Chicago Police Chief of Patrol Fred Waller told reporters.

Augustus became combative and pushed officers’ arms away before reaching for a weapon on his waist band, Waller said.

At some point during the confrontation, he was shot, police said. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police recovered a weapon at the scene but Augustus did not fire his gun at officers, Waller said. Asked if the man had a permit to carry a concealed weapon, Waller said, “As we know right now, he did not.”

Residents had asked for more police presence in the area where the shooting took place, Waller added. Hours after the shooting, dozens of people gathered to protest Augustus’ death.

Protesters arrested

At least four people have been arrested and several officers were injured with rocks and bottles, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted. It’s unclear what their charges are.

Protesters were seen approaching and shouting at the police officer cordon.

“Who do you protect? Who do you serve?” they shouted at officers as the protest continued into the night.

In a statement, the city’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability said it’s committed to a thorough, objective and unbiased investigation of the shooting. It asked for the public’s patience and cooperation.

The officers involved will be placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days, authorities said.

Chicago residents have taken to the streets to protest police-involved shootings before. In 2015, protesters blocked Interstate 94 after police released a graphic dash-cam video showing an officer shooting Laquan McDonald, 17.