Chicago police officers fatally shot a 20-year-old man Tuesday night in West Ridge during a stolen vehicle investigation.
It was the second police shooting in four days. So far this year, police officers have shot at least 20 people, well above last year’s total of 12, according to new data provided by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.
This year, at least nine of those incidents were fatal, according to the data. Last year, six police shootings were fatal, according to COPA’s annual report for 2024.
The other recent police shooting happened early Sunday in Morgan Park when a man arguing with his neighbor shot an officer and a second officer fired back.
On Tuesday, police fatally shot the 20-year-old around 10:25 p.m. in the 5700 block of North Washtenaw Avenue.
Officers were investigating a parked stolen BMW when a dark car pulled up, according to police. Two men from the car got out and tried to enter the BMW. It is unclear where the officers were located when the men approached the vehicle.
When officers approached, one of the men fled while the 20-year-old man tried to get back in the dark car, police said. He refused to get out of the car. When he tried driving away, an officer trying to get him out of the car was dragged alongside the vehicle, according to police.
The officer fired his gun once, striking the 20-year-old in the head and causing the car to crash into a parked car, police said.
He was Illinois Masonic Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said. A woman who was also in the vehicle was taken into custody and two guns were recovered from the scene. An officer suffered minor injuries and was taken to an area hospital for treatment, according to police.
Residents on the block said Wednesday the neighborhood is usually quiet without much suspicious activity.
“I’ve never heard a gunshot here,” said resident Evan D. “It felt a little weird but I still felt safe.”
Evan, who has lived on the block for almost five years, was sitting on his couch when he heard the incident unraveling.
“I did hear the car crash and what sounded like a gunshot,” Evan, 32, said. I “just heard stuff that didn’t sound like fireworks.”
The specifics of the shooting are being investigated by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. The police involved were placed on routine administrative duties for a minimum period of 30 days.
The other shooting happened a little after midnight on Sunday in Morgan Park.
Police responded to a fight in the 11400 block of South Davol Street and found 35-year-old Darren Brewster arguing with his 18-year-old neighbor, according to police.
Brewster, his sister and his girlfriend allegedly got into an argument with their neighbors last Friday, according to a proffer prepared by Cook County prosecutors.
Brewster allegedly returned to his neighbor’s home early Sunday with his 15-year-old son and banged on their door. He allegedly forced himself into the home, pulled out a firearm and fired a shot above one of the victim’s heads, according to the court document.
One of the residents called 911 reporting a home invasion. When police arrived, Brewster and two of the neighbors were allegedly fighting. When one of the officers tried to separate them, Brewster allegedly fired his gun. The officer was hit, but the bullet struck his bulletproof vest and he was unharmed. A second officer fired shots in response and hit Brewster and the 18-year-old, according to the proffer.
Brewster was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was in fair condition, police said. The 18-year-old, shot twice, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, also in fair condition.
Brewster was charged with attempted murder, home invasion with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, police said. His 15-year-old son was charged with home invasion.