CHICAGO — A police officer shot a 20-year-old man to death after a foot chase in Woodlawn Saturday afternoon, officials said.
The incident began in the 6200 block of South Eberhart Avenue at 8:45 a.m. when officers in a police car sought to "seize two guys in the middle of the street conducting a hand-to-hand transaction typical of a normal drug deal," Chicago Police said in a statement.
The two took off running, and one of the officers got out of the car and began chasing one into an alley in the 6200 block of South Rhodes Avenue.
The man, later identified as 20-year-old Raason Shaw, of the 7800 block of South Merrill Avenue, was "running while clutching an unknown object in his waistband," the statement said.
The officer, who was in plain clothes, found the man in a gangway between two buildings on the block. Shaw was holding a handgun in his right hand, and officer ordered him to drop the gun after identifying himself as police, the statement said.
Police said Shaw did not drop the gun but instead pointed it at the officer, causing the officer to open fire.
"He had a pistol, and after he raises it and points it at the officer, the officer was left in a position to defend himself," said Pat Camden, a spokesman for the police union, the Fraternal Order of Police.
Shaw was fatally shot and pronounced dead at the scene about 10:45 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
A glock semi-automatic handgun with a laser sight and extended high-capacity magazine was found at the scene, police said.
No officers were injured during the shooting, and the Independent Police Review Authority is investigating.
On Friday, an off-duty police officer shot and wounded a man attempting to break into his Far South Side home.
