Mom Sues Chicago After Police Kill Her Son

CHICAGO (CN) - Chicago police killed a man by running him over and shooting him twice in the back, then told his grieving mother it was "just another nigger dead," the mother claims in court.

Riots broke out on Chicago's South Side after police shot Jamaal Moore to death on Dec. 15, according to Chicago newspapers. The Tribune and others reported that the shooting came after a police chase, and that Moore, 23, and others, were suspected of robbing a truck driver.

Moore's mother, Gwendolyn Moore, and his family sued Chicago, its Police Department, Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, and Officers Gonzales, Gorman, Muth and Norris, in Federal Court.

The complaint states: "On December 15, 2012, Chicago Police officers were in pursuit of a vehicle that was, upon information and belief, occupied by Jamaal Moore, Sr. and others. They followed the vehicle to a gas station on the corner of 55th & Ashland on the south side of Chicago, just a few blocks from where Jamaal and his family lived. Upon information and belief, Jamaal exited the vehicle. Then, Chicago Police ran Jamaal over with a Chevy Tahoe SUV and got out of the Tahoe to arrest him. Without any lawful justification, an unknown female police officer then shot Jamaal, twice, in the back. Jamaal did not have a knife. He did not have [a] gun. He did not have any other weapon in his possession, nor did he threaten the police officer.

"Upon hearing that Jamaal was in trouble, his mother, Gwendolyn Moore, and his sister, Jaceta Smith, raced to the gas station. At the time, Mrs. Moore was on her way to work. Jaceta was coming from home. Once they got there, scores of neighbors and friends screamed that the police had shot Jamaal. Jamaal, however, was not at the station. Subsequently, when Mrs. Moore and Jaceta asked the police where Jamaal was, Officers Norris, Gonzales, Gorman and Muth responded by laughing and by taunting Mrs. Moore and Jaceta with the term, niggers, repeatedly. The police never did tell them the whereabouts of Jamaal. At some point during the commotion, when Mrs. Moore asked what was going on, one police officer said dryly, 'Just another nigger dead.' That dead 'nigger' happened to be Jamaal.

"Jamaal Moore, Sr., left behind his mother, father, siblings, his fiancé, Lindsay, and an infant son, Liam."

The family seeks punitive damages for wrongful death, excessive force, failure to intervene and emotional distress.

They are represented by Victor Henderson with Henderson Adam.

Attributing the explanation to police Superintendent McCarthy, The Tribune reported on Dec. 17 that the female officer who shot Moore to death "feared for her life and shot him."

"Moore, who police say appeared to be holding something in his hand, engaged in a tussle with one officer," the Tribune reported.

"When Moore charged at the other officer, she feared for her life and shot him, Superintendent Garry McCarthy said Saturday. Officers didn't find a gun with Moore. He was carrying a flashlight."

Describing the post-shooting scene as "contentious," the Tribune said police reports claim people tossed bricks at patrol cars and refused to disperse.

Five men, all African-American, were arrested and charged with "mob action" misdemeanors, according to the Tribune.

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