Police Shootings

Unlawful Police Shootings

Over the past five years, Loevy & Loevy has litigated more unlawful police shooting cases than any other Chicago law firm, particularly situations where the police attempt to justify the shooting by falsely claiming that the victim was wielding a gun, when he was in fact unarmed.

To litigate these unlawful police shooting cases, Loevy & Loevy typically invests up to $100,000 in expenses for all sorts of expert testimony, e.g., medical, police practices, shooting reenactment, fingerprint, gunshot residue, blood spatter, bullet trajectories. Loevy & Loevy also typically devotes hundreds, if not thousands, of attorney hours of work on shooting cases. When selecting an attorney, investigate whether his or her law firm has a record of winning this type of case.

Contact us today to discuss how our lawyers can help protect your civil rights in regards to an unlawful police shooting.

These cases tend to be very difficult to win, but Loevy & Loevy has consistently prevailed. Recent examples of our extensive experience in this area include:

Cornelius Ware: We represent a 20-year-old man who was shot and killed in a car during a traffic stop. The police claimed that the shooting was justified because Mr. Ware allegedly pointed a gun at them, but the eyewitnesses denied seeing a gun. There was a gun recovered in the car, but we proved at a jury trial in February 2007 that the gun was planted by the police. After the jury found against the police officers, the case was resolved for $5.25 million.

Michael Russell: Our client was shot and killed in Cabrini Green by a Chicago police officer who insisted that Mr. Russell was shooting at a rival gang member at the time. The jury credited the testimony of two admitted gang members over that of the Chicago police officers, and awarded Mr. Russell's family $1.5 million in damages.

Devon Nelson: Mr. Nelson was shot and killed in the back as he ran away from a Harvey police officer. Shortly after the shooting, a 13-year-old girl witnessed the police approach Mr. Nelson's body and drop a gun on the ground, falsely claiming that it had belonged to Mr. Nelson. The case settled favorably to Mr. Nelson for a confidential sum.

Archie Robinson: Shot in the buttocks by a Harvey police officer who then accused Mr. Robinson of pointing a gun at him. Two juries (at a trial and then a retrial) credited Mr. Robinson's testimony that the gun had actually been planted by the police, and he was awarded $300,000 in damages. The City of Harvey was also found independently liable on a Monell "policy and practice" claim for failing to investigate and punish prior police abuses, thereby encouraging the sort of evidence planting that happened here.

Michael Walker: Our client was shot and killed in Cabrini Green by a police officer who claimed that Mr. Walker was grabbing his gun. The forensic evidence was disputed, and a nearby witness denied certain parts of the police account. The case recently settled for $400,000.

Demetri Centura: We presently represent a young man who was shot and killed by an off-duty Chicago police officer. After getting into a bar fight with the driver of the vehicle in which Mr. Centura was driving, the officer pulled up alongside them in his Hummer and fired nine times, killing both civilians. The case is presently pending before Judge Filip.

Michael Dunbar: We also represent the estate of Mr. Dunbar, who was shot and killed by police officers without justification during a traffic stop. The police are falsely contending that Mr. Dunbar "dragged" a police officer. The case is pending before Judge Conlon.

Crispus Booker: Our client was shot by a Chicago police officer without justification. The police falsely claimed that our client had a gun, but we intend to prove at trial that the police are lying to cover up another unjustified shooting.

William Samuels: Senior citizen mistakenly shot in the groin by a police officer who entered Samuels' apartment and fired a gun at Samuels' dog. The case settled favorably.

Lataya Edwards: Ms. Edwards was shot by the police several times from behind as the car in which she was an innocent passenger drove away from a group of Chicago police officers. The City has since changed its policy to prohibit its officers from firing at fleeing cars. The case was settled favorably to Ms. Edwards.

Dellace Holton: Mr. Holton was shot in the back and buttocks as he lay prone in an automobile. Although he is presently incarcerated on charges that he endangered the lives of police officers, the physical evidence and our expert witnesses will prove the police are lying about what happened. Our civil suit is presently pending in Rockford.

Contact us today to discuss your civil rights if you were unjustifiably shot by the police.