Three Chicago police officers have been relieved following the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old last week, as the police superintendent has said he believes the officers may have violated department policy.
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ABC7 reports Paul O’Neal died of a gunshot wound to the back.
Police were responding to a report of a stolen Jaguar, while O’Neal was driving, when the incident occurred. The Jaguar crashed into a police cruiser before it sideswiped another, and two officers began to fire from inside the car. A third got out and fired what is believed to have been the shot that killed O’Neal.
A neighbor, Holly Shiffer, claimed to have heard 6 to 7 shots.
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O’Neal was unarmed and police were wearing body cameras at the time. The Police Review Authority is currently looking into the incident, and the officers involved will indefinitely not be allowed to wear their badges, carry a gun or patrol the streets.
“These officers have to make these decisions in a split second,” said Eddie Johnson, the police superintendent. “We have the luxury of going back and reviewing video.”
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A vigil was organized to honor O’Neal by activist Lamon Reccord but DNA Info reports that it ended in violence.
“Due to the fact of me losing my brother yesterday, the officers now been relieved from law, it is a start of equality justice,” Reccord posted online. “I am dealing with too much and I am at the point where I just don’t know what to do. I need to leave Chicago for about a good week to clear my mind.”