CHICAGO (CN) - Calumet City police pointlessly shot a man in the back and killed him as he fled a car show where his friend had been killed, the man's mother claims in court.
Anthanette Marshbanks sued Calumet City, its Police Chief Edward Gilmore and eight officers, on behalf of her late son Archie Lee Chambers Jr., Federal Court.
The complaint states: "On April 21, 2012, decedent Archie Chambers Jr. was attending a car show at What's Up Bar and Grill, located at 735 Torrence, City of Calumet City, Illinois.
"While he was attending this car show, a shooting took place, of which one of his friends, Willie Randall White, Jr., was a victim.
"This shooting took place in the parking lot of What's Up Bar and Grill.
"Decedent did not shoot Willie Randall White, Jr., or anyone else on the night in question.
"Defendants responded to the scene of the shooting based upon a call of shots fired.
"At the time of defendants' arrival, they did not know who the shooter was, nor did they have any information implicating Archie Chambers Jr. in any illegal or improper conduct.
"Decedent began to leave the parking lot by jumping a fence on the south side of the parking lot.
"Without knowledge of who perpetrated the shootings, defendants began shooting at decedent when he was on the top of the fence of the parking lot.
"Three of the shots fired by defendants connected with decedent. Decedent suffered gunshot wounds to his thigh, right hand, and chest.
"Archie Chambers Jr.'s body came to rest on the south side of the fence of the What's Up Bar and Grill parking lot.
"Defendants were shooting at decedent from the What's Up Bar and Grill parking lot in a southern direction and defendants fired multiple shots at Archie Chambers Jr.
"There was no gun or weapon recovered from Archie Chambers Jr.'s body on the south side of the fence where his body came to rest and he died."
The complaint adds: "In an attempt to conceal their misconduct, defendants only created one report, which was not drafted by any of the officers who discharged their weapons. Upon information and belief, the Chief of Police failed to discipline any officer and failed to enforce the police department's incident reporting written policies."
Marshbanks claims the police shooting of an innocent man is not an isolated incident in Calumet City.
"In early 2012, only months before this incident, Calumet City police officers shot and killed Stephon Watts, a 15-year-old boy suffering from autism," the complaint states.
"Calumet City police officers had prior encounters with Stephon Watts, none of which resulted in his death.
"During this shooting, the officers alleged that they had to shoot Stephon Watts for their own safety, although they were able to subdue the 15-year-old without lethal force on multiple occasions.
"The officers shot the boy two times, including a shot to the head of Stephon Watts," she says.
Marshbanks seeks damages for excessive force, conspiracy, failure to intervene, failure to supervise, emotional distress, and wrongful death.
She is represented by Dominick Lanzito with Peterson, Johnson & Murray.
Defendants include Officers Lucious, Gerstner, Fisher, Laster, Mottle, Hintz, DiFiori and Bland.
Calumet City, pop. 37,000, is southeast of Chicago, on the Indiana line.
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