A Chicago police officer is suing the estate of a teen whom he killed, arguing that the killing caused him “extreme emotional trauma.”
Officer Robert Rialmo killed 19-year old Quintonio LeGrier on the day after Christmas at his home, after responding to a domestic disturbance call. A 55-year old neighbor, Bettie Jones, was also shot and killed as she was standing nearby.
The $10M suit, which Rialmo’s attorney believes is necessary to send a message that officers are “not targets for assaults” and “suffer damage like anybody else,” offers an account of the incident from Rialmo’s point of view, which conflicts with that of LeGrier’s father. The suit states that after Rialmo entered the house, LeGrier came “barging” out of the door with a bat. The suit goes on to explain a situation of LeGrier “taking a full swing” at Rialmo, and “missing (his head) by inches, but getting close enough for Officer Rialmo to feel the movement of air as the bat passed in front of his face.” The suit goes on to mention that LaGrier continuously swung the bat at Rialmo as he shouted orders for the teen to drop the weapon. “Rialmo reasonably believed that if he did not use deadly force against LeGrier, that LeGrier would kill him,” the suit states. “Officer Rialmo drew his handgun from its holster, and starting to fire from holster level, fired eight rounds at LeGrier from his 9 mm Smith & Wesson handgun.”
LaGrier’s father, Antonio, offered his account through a family attorney, which states that his son was never a threat.
In a statement released by the attorney of Rialmo, the former officer’s “grieving process” is described. “He’s got this extra added burden (with) the death of Jones,” Brodsky said. “He’s going through what I would call the normal grieving process for someone who is forced to take a human life.” The statement continued, “The fact that LeGrier’s actions … forced Officer Rialmo to end LeGrier’s life, and to accidentally take the innocent life of Bettie Jones, has caused, and will continue to cause, Officer Rialmo to suffer extreme emotional trauma.”
Sources: Chicago Tribune
