CHICAGO — A Chicago Police sergeant who shot at a man with autism this weekend has been relieved of his police powers indefinitely.
The sergeant was initially placed on administrative duty for 30 days, a standard move after police-involved shootings. But the the Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates shootings by officers, recommended the officer be relieved of his duties on Monday, said police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
Supt. Eddie Johnson — who has said there are "unanswered questions" in the case — agreed with IPRA and the officer was placed on administrative duties indefinitely, Guglielmi said. The move was first reported by the Tribune.
The shooting happened Sunday morning in Morgan Park. The sergeant was off-duty and driving home when he got into an "armed confrontation" with an 18-year-old in the 11100 block of South Hermosa Avenue, police said.
The sergeant fired shots, hitting the man in his arm. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
The man has autism and schizophrenia, Guglielmi said.
At a Sunday news conference, Johnson told reporters the sergeant was returning from work in his personal car when he saw the man and began questioning him. The man became "elusive and unresponsive," Johnson said.
The "encounter escalated," leading the sergeant to shoot the the man, Johnson said.
No gun was immediately found, Johnson said, and an investigation was ongoing.
"We still have many unanswered questions," Johnson said.
