Slain Homewood Woman's Family Sue Police Who Shot Her, Village: Report

HOMEWOOD, IL — Nearly one year after her death, the family of a Homewood woman fatally shot by Dolton police last July have filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the police officers involved and the Village of Dolton.

Alexis Wilson, 19, was shot and killed July 27, 2021, after an encounter with police outside Baba's Famous Steak and Lemonade in Dolton. Police had been called for reports of an irate customer in a dispute with an employee after her order was incorrect. Wilson, the customer, was allegedly threatening drive-thru workers with a gun, which her attorneys now allege was a stick. Officers on the scene asked Wilson and her male passenger to step out of the van Wilson was driving, and while the passenger stepped out, Wilson did not comply, WGN reports.

The lawsuit alleges that officers then opened the car door and punched her, and Wilson began driving away while in fear for her life, according to the report. Police have disputed that officers struck Wilson.

An officer was dragged and another was struck in the process. Officers fired into the vehicle, striking Wilson. The van then crashed into a nearby business. Wilson was pronounced dead on the scene. Police last year alleged that they fired at Wilson because she was using her car as a weapon, WGN reports.

The lawsuit filed last week names Dolton Police Officers Ryan Perez and Gerald Carlton, alleging they used excessive force against Wilson, ABC-7 reports.

Body cam footage showed the entire encounter took just three minutes.

"Three minutes, that child is dead with seven bullets to in her head," Wilson told ABC7. "That's an execution."

ABC-7 reports that the shooting is reportedly under investigation by the Cook County State's Attorney's Law Enforcement Accountability Division.