Protesters Gather in Chicago After Police Fatally Shoot Local Barber

Protesters gathered near Chicago's South Shore after Chicago Police fatally shot a local barber. As reported by Nader Issa of the Chicago Sun Times, witnesses familiar with the victim claim he went by the nickname "Snoop". 

Chief of Patrol Fred Waller described the events during a Saturday evening press conference. Waller stated that the officers approached the victim on the 2000 block of East 71st Street because the victim allegedly "exhibited characteristics of an armed person." This detainment led to a confrontation ending with the police shooting and killing the man. Witnesses claim the victim was shot in the back several times as he ran away. This was not corroborated by Anthony Guglielmi, chief Chicago Police communications officer.

According to Guglielmi, the victim is believed to be in his 30s. The responding officers thought 'He looked like he may have something on him. They [went] to question him, and at that point a confrontation ensued and he was shot'. Guglielmi also informed that while no officers were hurt, a firearm was recovered at the scene of the shooting. 

UPDATE: Officers assigned to a foot assignment observe a man exhibiting characteristics of an armed person. Officers go to question him when a confrontation ensues and he is shot. The man was fatally wounded. A weapon recovered on scene. pic.twitter.com/8CJXu8m5pa

— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) July 15, 2018

Protesters marched for hours chanting, "No justice, no peace" and asked in unison "Who do you serve who do you protect?" as they demanded answers and justice from law enforcement officials. Chicago Police confirmed four protesters were arrested as several officers were injured by flying rocks and bottles thrown from the crowd. 

The most disturbing reality of this most recent killing perpetrated by police is the justification for engaging him. "Exhibiting characteristics of being armed' seems a frivolous and illegitimate excuse for officers to stop a person for questioning, especially considering that simply being armed does not merit police intervention. As of July 9, 2013, the state of Illinois joined the rest of the country in allowing its residents to carry a concealed weapon. Per Public Act 98-63, the Firearm Concealed Carry Act became state law 430 ILCS 66. Even if the officers that killed the Chicago barber believed him to be armed, that is not justification to abuse power and harass him.