Newly released video shows a Chicago police officer fatally shooting an armed man who appears to be holding a gun during a domestic call last month in Pullman.
On the morning of March 20 officers responded to a domestic-related call of a person with a gun at an apartment complex in the 900 block of East 100th Street, where an armed man was in a bedroom with a woman, Chicago police said.
The man, Devon L. Smith, 43, allegedly pointed his gun at an officer. The officer then fired, striking Smith multiple times. He died about an hour later.
Body-worn camera footage released by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability shows the encounter inside the apartment.
In the video, someone unlocks the door for officers who enter the apartment and announce themselves. Officers search the apartment and one of them heads up the stairs.
As the officers walk through a bathroom, a door to another room opens revealing Smith and a woman. The officer shouts “hands up” and “gun, we got a gun” as Smith appears to be holding something in his right hand.
Seconds later the woman bolts from the room, and the officer fires five shots. As the officer approaches Smith — who is face down on the floor — to handcuff him, a gun can be seen lying near Smith’s right hand.
Smith was struck in the forearm, chest and abdomen, according to a police report. He was initially taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition but was later pronounced dead.
COPA, citing preliminary information, said in a statement that “the armed individual pointed a firearm in the direction of the officer.”
That is not clearly visible in the released video as Smith is mostly obscured during the encounter with the officer.
As the incident unfolded in the London Towne Houses complex, a Calumet District officer reported it to 911 dispatchers and several other officers arrived, according to police radio transmissions.
“Shots fired! Shots fired in the residence! Send EMS,” an officer radios.
“Is the offender down? Were shots fired by police or just the offender?’’ a dispatcher asks.
“Shots fired by police, weapon recovered,” an officer replies.
COPA is investigating.