The Chicago police officer who fatally shot a 19-year-old and a 55-year-old and was accidentally shot during the incident sued the deceased teen's estate. The officer has asked for $180,000 as he has been emotionally traumatized by the incident.
In a report by Time, the Chicago police officer who has been identified as Robert Rialmo filed his lawsuit last Friday. He has detailed in his lawsuit the shooting that took place last December 26, which killed 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier. The lawsuit claims that Rialmo fired eight rounds as LeGrier twice swung a bat at his head despite the officer's orders for the teen to drop the weapon.
The lawsuit added, "Rialmo reasonably believed that if he did not use deadly force against LeGrier, that LeGrier would kill him." The lawsuit is a countersuit after LeGrier's father filed for a wrongful death. LeGrier's dad, Antonio, said that his son was not a threat during the confrontation with the officers.
The attorney of Antonio, Basileios Foutris, said in a statement that the countersuit of the officer was outlandish adding that he was a coward for shooting the teen in the back. Fourtris added, "That's a new low for the Chicago Police Department."
Out of the eight rounds fired, one bullet hit and killed 55-year-old Bettie Jones, who is said to be a neighbor of LeGrier. Police have ruled the death of Jones as accidental, Business Insider reported. The family of Jones also filed for a wrongful death lawsuit seeking more than $100,000 in damages.
As for the lawyer of Rialmo, Joel Brodsky, he said that his client has been experiencing the extra burden due to the death of Jones, Washington Post reported. Brodsky pointed out that Rialmo has been going through the normal grieving process for someone "who is forced to take a human life." Rialmo's version of events was different from the statement of the teenager's father.
Antonio claimed that the officer was outside the building when Rialmo started to shoot and struck LeGrier. However, the countersuit says that Rialmo was charged by LeGrier and was to be hit by the teenager with his bat but he narrowly missed it. The officer added that he started to back away and warned the teenager to drop the bat.
Brodsky added that the family of LeGrier is just finding a way to get paid after the video of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald being shot by officer Jason Van Dyke was released. The family of McDonald was then paid by the state.
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