Chicago Cops Shot Kids, Mothers Say

CHICAGO (CN) - Chicago police opened fire on a car full of kids and wounded two of them "without provocation, cause or justification of any kind," two mothers claim in court.

Catherine Waller and Abena Andoh sued Chicago, its police Officers J.E. Morlock and K.W. Flaherty, and other unknown officers on behalf of Waller's son D.B., and Andoh's son D.H.

The mothers claim Morlock and Flaherty stopped a car c containing their kids and "several other minors" three days before Christmas last year, on the South Side.

Two passengers fled.

"Seconds later, one or more of the defendant officers opened fire on the remaining occupants of the vehicle, which included D.B and D.H.," according to the complaint.

"Defendant officers shot more than a dozen rounds into the vehicle filled with minors without provocation, cause or justification of any kind.

"That is, no weapon was brandished nor was there any act of violence or aggression directed at or toward defendant officers.

"D.B. was struck by several bullets. He suffered one wound to the shoulder and two others that grazed his forehead and cheek.

"D.H. was also hit by the barrage of bullets, suffering one wound to his left hip and one to his right heel.

"After littering the vehicle with bullets, defendant officers removed D.B. and D.H. from the car and handcuffed them."

The mothers say the cops took the children to a hospital for treatment, then removed them from the hospital without medical authorization and took them to the cop shop on 111th Street for questioning. They questioned them there though both kids were in "extreme anguish" from the gunshots, the mothers say.

"(D)uring said interviews, D.B.'s gunshot wound to his shoulder began to bleed so profusely that he had to be taken back to Christ Hospital for additional medical treatment," according to the lawsuit.

The families seek punitive damages for excessive force, conspiracy, civil rights violations, constitutional violations, failure to intervene, failure to provide medical care, assault and battery and other charges.

They are represented by Michael Cheronis and Timothy Fiscella.

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