Ald. O'Shea Responds to Police-Involved Shooting in Mt. Greenwood

CHICAGO, IL -- After three days of demonstrations, tension and anguish following Saturday’s police-involved shooting of an African-American man said to be armed with a gun, Ald. Matt O’Shea urged in a statement to 19th ward residents not to engage in divisive rhetoric or rumor spreading on social media.
O’Shea also said the Chicago Police Department plans to deploy additional police resources in the Mt. Greenwood neighborhood to “help ensure the safety of our community.” Here is his statement in its entirety:

As has been detailed in numerous media accounts, an apparent traffic dispute this Saturday afternoon escalated into a shooting incident in Mount Greenwood near 111th and Troy Ave. Preliminary reports by the Chicago Police Department indicate an off-duty officer fatally shot an armed motorist at the scene. The incident is currently being investigated by the Independent Police Review Authority.

On Sunday, a small group of protesters staged a demonstration near the shooting scene, sparking a counter demonstration, both of which ended peacefully. The shooting incident and the subsequent demonstrations have received extensive media coverage. Unfortunately, they have also sparked several rumors on various social media platforms regarding supposed acts of retaliation.

At this time, the Chicago Police Department is aware of these rumors and is monitoring the situation closely. They have found no evidence to suggest that these threats are credible. Despite that, additional police resources have and will be present throughout the coming days to help ensure the safety of our community.
I urge all 19th Ward residents not to further burden law enforcement by spreading rumors, engaging in speculation, or using divisive rhetoric.

Additionally, more demonstrations may be staged in our community in the coming days. All Americans have a constitutional right to protest; I'd ask anyone who decides to participate in such a demonstration to do so peacefully and respectfully. Engaging in any type of dispute with protesters will only fuel conflict and make it more difficult for the police to maintain peace.

Moving forward, I will continue to work with law enforcement to evaluate any information that emerges and to ensure all appropriate steps are taken to safeguard the safety of our community.
Thanks,
Matt O'Shea
Alderman, 19th Ward

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