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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Dueling Versions of Death at Hands of Police

CHICAGO (CN) - Two Chicago cops hung a man upside down from his second-story window, took a shot at him and then dropped him head-first to the pavement below, killing him, the man's relatives say. WGN News reported the story differently, saying the officers shot the victim, a felon, after he pointed a gun at them and tried to flee out his window.

Suing for the estate of the late Matthias Mayhorn, Glen Mayhorn says that Matthias, 28, was killed by Officers Henry Thomas and Patrick Kane. He claims that Thomas and Kane pursued Matthias' into his second-floor apartment on South Hermitage Avenue and held him by his legs outside of the window. Thomas then shot at Matthias and the officers let him drop to the ground, Mayhorn says.

He claims that the officers did not call emergency services right away and that the city failed to conduct a proper investigation.

WGN reported on May 11 that Matthias Mayhorn was trying to flee through a window when he was shot to death.

"As Mayhorn, 28, exited, he aimed a gun at officers, causing police to fire multiple shots at the man. The shots knocked him to the pavement below his window," WGN reported, citing a Chicago Police Department press release.

"He was shot twice, in the head and leg, said Chicago Fire Department Cmdr. Will Knight, and was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:55 p.m. A gun was recovered from the scene, and the incident is under investigation, Payne said," WGN added.

The family seeks damages for wrongful death from the City of Chicago and the officers. The estate is represented by Larry Rogers with Power, Rogers & Smith.

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