Man shot in head by CPD officer is discovered not responsible of making an attempt to shoot cops

A person who was shot within the head by a Chicago police officer inside a Brighton Park bar final yr has been acquitted of probably the most critical costs filed towards him.

Fernando Guzman, 38, was discovered not responsible this week of tried homicide and discharging a firearm towards a peace officer after a jury trial earlier than Decide Ursula Walowski. Nevertheless, the panel did convict him on two counts of aggravated illegal use of a weapon.

The capturing unfolded round 12:20 a.m. on October 12, 2024, when officers responded to a “particular person with a gun” name at a bar within the 3900 block of South Kedzie Avenue. Witnesses instructed arriving officers {that a} man sporting a development vest had pointed a gun at somebody.

When officers confronted Guzman, who reportedly matched the outline, they requested if he was armed, officers mentioned. Guzman allegedly displayed a handgun, and one officer tried to disarm him.

In an announcement issued hours later, CPD mentioned, “Officers tried to disarm the offender when he discharged his weapon. An officer returned hearth, placing the offender.” And in an preliminary court docket submitting, prosecutors mentioned Guzman “shot one shot within the route of” an officer. A second cop on the scene returned hearth, placing Guzman within the left facet of the pinnacle, the submitting said.

However the Civilian Workplace of Police Accountability used totally different language 5 days after the capturing, leaving open the chance that Guzman didn’t hearth the weapon deliberately: “One of many officers gave verbal instructions to drop the weapon and as officers tried to disarm the person, the person’s firearm discharged. One of many officers then returned hearth, placing the person within the head.”

Prosecutors mentioned safety cameras contained in the bar and the officers’ body-worn cameras captured the encounter. However the footage has not been launched publicly as a result of Decide Walowski ordered the town to withhold it whereas the case was pending.

Guzman has been detained within the Cook dinner County Jail because the night time of the capturing. Walowski scheduled a December 15 listening to to deal with post-trial motions and decide his sentencing on the remaining weapon convictions.

Unique reporting you’ll see nowhere else, paid for by our readers. Click on right here to assist our work.