Chicago mayor issues police shooting statement

The police said that around 4:25 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to a “domestic disturbance” on West Erie Street and were “confronted by a combative subject”.

The medical examiner’s office identified those killed as Bettie Jones, 55, and a 19-year-old man. Autopsies had not yet been performed.

Bettie Jones and LeGrier (whose name some officials said might have been capitalized differently, as Legrier) were both black. The department has placed the officer on administrative duty for 30 days and “extends their deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends”, Chicago police said.

The Independent Police Review Authority is investigating the shooting. Jones was pronounced dead at Loretto Hospital at 4:51 a.m. LeGrier was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital at 5:14 a.m. He said Quintonio tried to bust the door open, but he kept him from doing so and called police.

The father said he called Ms Jones, who lived a floor below, and warned her that his son was a “little irate” and not to open the door unless police arrived. The woman was “accidentally struck”, the police said.

Antonio LeGrier then started making his way down from the second floor and heard gunshots.

Her daughter, Latisha Jones, told the Tribune that she woke up to the sound of gunshots.

He said his son had emotional problems after spending most of his childhood in foster care.

Robin Andrews, Bettie Jones’ youngest brother, said Jones had been battling ovarian cancer for several years and had recently taken time off at work to recuperate.

Betty Jones (l.) and Quintonio LeGrier were fatally shot by police at a West Garfield Park residence the day after Christmas.

An officer-involved shooting in Chicago Saturday morning resulted in the death of two people, one of them a Northern Illinois University student.

Quintonio graduated a year ago from Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy in Chicago.

Mr LeGrier’s father Antonio said police told him that his son was shot seven times.

As families of both victims arrived to find out what happened, Cooksey went to the hospital and learned her son did not make it.

The teenager’s mother, Janet Cooksey, who was absent when the incident occurred, said her son “had mental issues”, and his father was afraid because their son was behaving unusual.

LeGrier described the officers as acting “recklessly” and “shooting blindly” into a doorway and that he felt that the officer who fired the fatal shots was aware that he had made a poor decision.

The woman, Bettie Jones, was one of two people killed by police in the shooting early Saturday.

Police said the shooting is under investigation and the case has been referred to the city’s main police oversight agency.

The shooting happened around 4:25am local time on Saturday, police said.

“We will be a better city for it”, Emanuel said.

“Are we gonna get protected or is the police just gonna keep taking lives?”

Mayor Emanuel, in a statement, said: “Anytime an officer uses force the public deserves answers, and regardless of the circumstances, we all grieve anytime there is a loss of life in our city”.

Emanuel’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP.

Melvin Jones said he and about 15 other relatives were at the apartment Friday to celebrate Christmas with food, family and card games. “She wasn’t saying anything”, Jones said. The daughters are 38, 33 and 19-year old twins.

Americans say the most important events of 2015 were a string of mass shootings, including the attacks in San Bernardino, California, and Paris, plus Islamic State group atrocities.