A Cook County jury has awarded a South Side family $4.75 million, in connection with a 2014 New Year’s Eve shooting where an officer was accused of blindly firing into the rear of a 105th Street home.
Kierra Williamson and two brothers, Michael and Princeton, were shot by a Chicago police officer responding to a report of shots fired by New Year’s revelers. Michael Williamson was in the Navy and home on leave at the time.
The family was represented by attorney Jeffrey Neslund, who also represented the family of LaQuan McDonald, who was shot 16 times by officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014.
Testimony in the case stated that officer Wilfredo Ortiz fired 11 shots. Kierra Williamson was inside the house and was hit in the chest. Michael Williamson was on the porch and suffered wounds to the shoulder, back, and stomach. His brother Princeton was also on the porch and was hit at least three times.
Another brother, Thaddeus, suffered a graze wound to the cheek.
The Independent Police Review Authority ruled the shooting justified at the time.
Ortiz had insisted he saw a man on the porch pointing a gun at him who refused to drop the weapon.
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"We are disappointed with the jury's verdict and are evaluating our legal options," Bill McCaffrey, of the Chicago Law Department, said.
