$7.5 Million Settlement In Fatal Police Shooting Of Security Guard

MIDLOTHIAN, IL — The Village of Midlothian has arrived at a $7.5 million payout to settle a wrongful death lawsuit in the shooting of a Black security guard outside a Robbins nightclub in 2018, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Jemel Roberson, 26, was shot by a Midlothian police officer after a fight broke out and Roberson intervened and apprehended one of the people involved. Roberson was fatally struck in a shoot-out with police, and his family later sued the Midlothian Police Department and Village of Midlothian. A court still must approve the settlement, which the Village agreed to July 6, according to the report.

The shooting happened at about 4 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 at Manny's Blue Room, 2911 S. Claire Blvd. Robbins Police Chief Roy Wells told the Southtown that a bar fight had turned to gun play when a man went outside and returned with a pistol.

When the man started shooting, Roberson returned fire. He eventually was able to subdue one of the men in the original argument, bringing him to the ground outside the bar, witnesses said at the time. Police from multiple jurisdictions responded, and though witnesses alleged many shouted that Roberson was a security guard, Midlothian police Officer Ian Covey opened fire.

Roberson's family filed a federal lawsuit against the Village and the then-unnamed officer, accusing the officer of using excessive force, and claiming the officer's decision to shoot Roberson was unreasonable, unprovoked, and unjustified. In October 2020, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx declined to press charges against the officer.

Roberson's daughter Justice is the sole beneficiary of his estate.