Two years ago, an Illinois police officer fatally shot a Black man, when he was working as a security guard at a local bar. However, on Friday (Oct. 2), the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office revealed that Officer Ian Covey will not be facing any charges for the death of Jemel Roberson.
“After an extensive and thorough review of the police-involved shooting resulting in the 2018 death of Jemel Roberson, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) has concluded that the totality of the evidence is insufficient to support criminal charges against Midlothian Police Officer Ian Covey,” the news release states.
In the year 2018, Roberson was working as a security guard at Manny’s Blue Room, which is a bar in suburban Chicago. Then, an armed individual reached the venue and began to open fire. Somehow, Roberson managed to pin the shooter down to the ground.
But soon, Officer Covey reached the venue and killed Roberson, while onlookers complained that he was not the active shooter.
“We all yelled, ‘He’s a security. He’s a security,’ and without … giving any thought, they shot him,” witness Adam Harris told WGN. ”The vest said security as well … and they shot him in the side.”
Interestingly, the active shooter was not killed and authorities are still not aware as to why he was shooting.
During the investigation, more than 100 witnesses were interviewed. A second review of the case was conducted by the Office of the Illinois State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor and he decided that the officer should not be charged.
“I am acutely aware in this age of civil unrest that police-involved shootings are viewed under a microscope, as they very well should be,” Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx said in a statement. “The death of Jemel Roberson is tragically heartbreaking, and while it might feel to some people like justice was not served here, I have both an ethical and legal obligation to make charging decisions based on the law and the evidence.”
© 2020, Jonathan P-Wright. All rights reserved.
