Reginald Clay Jr Killed In Chicago Police Shooting
Wrongful Death - April 17, 2023
Reginald Clay Jr., Father of 3-Year-Old Girl, Killed In Chicago Police Shooting
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (April 17, 2023) – A 24-year-old man identified as Reginald Clay Jr was killed in a Chicago police shooting by West Flournoy Street and South Independence Boulevard.
Cook County police officials are saying that the incident took place on Saturday morning in Chicago’s West Side. Family members are saying that Reginald Clay Jr was an innocent bystander who was chased down and shot by police in the back 4 times.
Sadly, he died after being shot by Chicago police officers. Authorities claimed that Reginald Clay Jr was armed. However, family members said that he had a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card.
Tragically, the victim was meeting with friends before going to a friend’s funeral. He is survived by a 3-year-old daughter.
Family members are now demanding answers about what happened. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Chicago Police Shootings
The United States has one of the highest rates of fatal police shootings in the world. According to the Washington Post, 1,042 people were shot to death by police officers and another 4,000 were injured in 2021. According to the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, unarmed black Americans were three times more likely to be killed in police shootings than white Americans. There are a number of steps that police departments can take to prevent fatal encounters.
- Police officers should wear body cameras that are turned on.
- Police officers should be well trained to de-escalate encounters with suspects.
- Police officers should speak clearly with suspects and do everything that they can before resorting to lethal force.
Chicago police officers are obligated to exercise great care to avoid needlessly harming suspects. Pursuant 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.” If a police officer uses excessive force and kills someone, the department that they work for could be held liable for the incident. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any police shooting.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Body camera footage from all officers involved should be examined.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
Sadly, police departments will often do everything in their power to deny liability for any police shooting. It is common for them to fail to be transparent about deadly shootings. Accordingly, it is important that victims of police shootings understand that they do have rights. The family of any person that is killed due to the excessive force of police officers may be able to seek some measure of accountability and justice through a civil claim.
Investigating A Chicago Police Shooting
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Reginald Clay Jr. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. The Chicago Police Department needs to do the right thing and be completely transparent about what took place.
Do you need more information about a Chicago police shooting? Our team of civil rights advocates are here for you. We care deeply that victims of excessive force and their families are aware of their rights and that police departments are held to account for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we may be able to help you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
