One Person Injured In Peoria Police Shooting on South Griswold
Personal Injury - December 23, 2023
Dog Killed, One Person Injured In Peoria Police Shooting At Home Along 1600 Block of South Griswold
PEORIA, ILLINOIS (December 23, 2023) – A woman was injured after police shot and killed a dog at a Peoria home along the 1600 Block of South Griswold.
Peoria County officials are saying that the incident began around 5:20 a.m. on Sunday. Police were called to a home after getting reports about a man refusing to leave.
Officers said that they encountered an aggressive dog and opened fire. Sadly, the dog died at the scene and a woman was also injured. However, it remains unclear if she was hit by gunfire or injured in some other way.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Peoria Police Shootings
Thousands of people are injured every year following encounters with police officers. According to the University of Illinois Chicago, “In the U.S. during a given year, an estimated 1 million civilians experience police threat of or use of force resulting in a conservative estimate of 75,000 non-fatal injuries requiring hospital treatment and 600-1000 deaths.” There are a number of steps that police departments should take in order to prevent police shootings.
- All police officers should receive training on de-escalation techniques.
- Police departments should develop and enforce clear and comprehensive use-of-force policies.
- Police officers should be trained to watch their crossfire and not shoot their guns when other officers or bystanders could be hit.
Depending on the facts of any case, a police department could be liable if one of their officers injured an innocent bystander. According to Illinois Civil Code 720 ILCS 5/7-5, “A peace officer is not justified in using force likely to cause death or great bodily harm when there is no longer an imminent threat of great bodily harm to the officer or another.” What constitutes excessive force will vary from one situation to the next. Victims of excessive force tend to suffer many different injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Gunshot wounds
- Lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
Many police shootings are preventable. They are much more likely to occur when officers are not properly trained. Sadly, though, police departments will often do everything that they can to deny liability if one of their officers injured someone. Any person that is injured due to the wrongful actions of a Peoria County officer may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A personal injury attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Illinois Police Shootings
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Peoria County police shooting. It is deeply unfortunate that a dog was killed. There needs to be some accountability for what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an Illinois police shooting? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that victims are aware of their rights and that police departments are held accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.