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Beal Waved Gun, Told Cops 'You're Not the Only $%&! With Guns': Prosecutors

By Ed Komenda | November 8, 2016 3:57pm | Updated on November 8, 2016 4:56pm
 Blue Lives Matter protesters showed up near the scene of a police-involved shooting in Mt. Greenwood Saturday. Joshua Beal (pictured) was killed by an officer.
Blue Lives Matter protesters showed up near the scene of a police-involved shooting in Mt. Greenwood Saturday. Joshua Beal (pictured) was killed by an officer.
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Kofi Ademola/Provided

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — More details emerged Tuesday about the weekend incident in which police shot a man in Mount Greenwood, including prosecutors contending the victim waved a gun and shouted at officers, "You're not the only mother------- out there with guns."

Prosecutors made the charge during a bond hearing for Michael Beal, the brother of Joshua Beal — a  25-year-old Indiana man killed by police after a traffic dispute on Saturday. Michael Beal is charged with assaulting and trying to disarm a police officer.

The incident happened about 3 p.m. Saturday near 111th Street and Troy Avenue. Joshua Beal was in a procession of cars returning from a funeral when he stopped in front of a firehouse on 111th Street, according to prosecutors.

 Michael Beal, the brother of Joshua Beale — a 25-year-old Indiana man killed by police after a traffic dispute in Mount Greenwood Saturday — is being held in Cook County Jail on $500,000 bond after prosecutors say he tried to assaulted and tried to disarm a police officer.
Michael Beal, the brother of Joshua Beale — a 25-year-old Indiana man killed by police after a traffic dispute in Mount Greenwood Saturday — is being held in Cook County Jail on $500,000 bond after prosecutors say he tried to assaulted and tried to disarm a police officer.
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Chicago Police Department

An off-duty police officer told Beal that he was blocking access to the firehouse and the confrontation started, prosecutors said. Another off-duty officer in a nearby barber shop joined in on the confrontation, prosecutors said.

A group of nine people approached the second officer and started punching him, prosecutors said.

A police sergeant driving to work saw the fight. He got out of his car, drew his gun and said he was a police officer, authorities said.

"You're not the only mother------- out there with guns," Joshua Beal said and waved the gun "back and forth," according to prosecutors. Joshua Beal then pulled the trigger, prosecutors said. It was unclear whether the gun actually fired.

Beal, who was in town to serve as a pallbearer at his cousin's funeral, refused to drop his gun, and he was shot multiple times, prosecutors said. He later died at Advocate Christ Medical Center.

Michael Beal then tried to pick up his brother's gun, prosecutors said.

"F--- you," Michael Beal said, according to prosecutors. "You killed my brother. I'm going to kill you."

Michael Beal got into a physical fight with one of the off-duty officers, choking him on the ground, prosecutors said.

Officers arrested Michael Beal, who now stands charged of trying to disarm a police officer and assaulting and officer. Cook County Judge Donald D. Panarese Jr. ordered that Michael Beal be held on $500,000 bail.

Barry Spector, Michael Beal's attorney, said the story shared by prosecutors is incomplete and varies from accounts given by police.

The lawyer suggested video exists not yet seen by the public, perhaps from the firehouse. Such video would "tell the whole story," Spector said.

"I think until that's released we hope the city shows the family some considerations here and shows us some respect here and lets us see the video before it's released to the public," Spector said.

Spector said Michael Beal should not be punished for attacking an officer after seeing his brother fatally shot because it was not undeniably clear he was dealing with police.

"You've got a guy on a Saturday afternoon going around running errands wearing gym shoes and blue jeans and a T-shirt, and he's walking out with a gun sticking it in your face, saying, 'I'm the police,'" Spector said. "Well, says who?"

Beal's next court date is Nov. 14.

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