A Chicago police officer plans to sue the family of a teenager he shot and killed in December over the emotional stress and trauma he apparently suffered in the shooting.
“The damage is my client feels horrible that Bettie Jones is dead because of the actions he was forced to take,” attorney Joe Brodsky told the Agence France-Presse. “It’s affected him greatly. It’s a burden he’s going to have to carry for the rest of his life.”
On Dec. 26, Quintonio LeGrier, a 19-year-old engineering student who was struggling with mental health problems, called 911 three times, asking police to come to his father’s home, according to emergency calls released last week. The dispatcher did not send an officer to the house until his father called.
When police arrived, LeGrier walked out of his home carrying a baseball bat, according to police accounts. Officer Robert Rialmo, 27, shot him six times, killing him.
Mr. Brodsky said LeGrier’s illness makes the incident a “double tragedy because if my client had advance knowledge he was dealing with a mentally ill person he may have handled this in a different way.”
Officer Rialmo also accidentally shot neighbor Bettie Jones, a 55-year-old mother of five, killing her, Fusion reported.
Two wrongful death lawsuits have already been filed against the city, citing officer misconduct. Officer Rialmo has been put on desk duty. The 911 call-taker is also being disciplined, an Office of Emergency Management spokesperson told the Chicago Sun-Times.
On Thursday, Joel Brodsky, the attorney for officer Rialmo, told Fusion that he plans to file a counter lawsuit against LeGrier’s estate, citing emotional distress and assault. The officer claims LeGrier assaulted him prior to firing his gun.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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