Barber Shot By Chicago Police Identified As Harith Augustus

CHICAGO — An angry crowd gathered in the South Shore neighborhood Saturday evening after Chicago Police shot and killed a man in the 7100 block of South Chappel Avenue around 5:30 p.m. The man — identified Saturday as Harith Augustus, 37 — was taken to Jackson Park Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the Chicago Fire Department.

Police said the man was shot after officers on foot patrol tried to question him, believing that he was armed because he was "exhibiting characteristics of an armed person." A police spokesman said a confrontation developed when police went to question him.

Police said a weapon was recovered on scene.

A Facebook page for Harith Augustus states that he studied at Kennedy-King College and worked as a barber. He was reportedly known in the neighborhood as "Snoop the Barber."

Patch local editor Tim Moran was on the scene reporting via Facebook Live.

A crowd estimated at about 100 people gathered near the crime scene behind police tape at about 8 p.m. They began several chants, calling police "murderers" many times. After 9 p.m., the scene grew more chaotic and people were seen throwing bottles and other objects at the police.

At one point, police charged a group of demonstrators in a parking lot on the south side of 71st Street, arresting several. A follow-up statement from police later in the night after the protests indicates several officers were injured by bottles and rocks that were thrown at them.

Multiple videos of the clash, which centered in a shopping center parking lot, showed police approaching some of the demonstrators with bats as other protesters ran away. At least one man was forcefully taken to the ground by multiple police officers.

Body cam footage of the shooting was released by police officials on Sunday. It shows three police officers stop Augustus on foot before a struggle ensues and shots are fired as Augustus tries to flee in the street.