Blue Island shooting: 1 shot, killed by a Blue Island police officer;  Illinois State Police investigated

Thursday, June 1, 2023 21:33

BLUE ISLAND, Ill. (WLS) — A man was shot and killed by Blue Island police early Thursday, police said.

Officers responded to a 2,000 block of Broadway street at around 1:35 a.m. for a suspicious vehicle complaint and found an unresponsive man in the driver's seat with the door open, police said.

Officers observed an AR-15 type weapon in the front passenger seat and they attempted to wake the man after more officers arrived, police said.

After he awoke, police say he grabbed the front passenger seat and an officer opened fire, hitting his body.

He was taken to Christ's Advocate Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Some nearby heard the sound, but did not see the scene.

“I just woke up in the middle of the night, and I didn't know. For some reason, I saw a big flash, but I didn't really think about it,” said Yelissa Allen. “It's a really messed up situation because, cops, you like training in knowing where you can shoot someone, like incapacitate them, the way they kill them. I understand self-defense and all that, but there's a million different ways they can handle this situation.”

The man had just moved into an apartment on Broadway, and was parked on the street near the apartment.

The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force is investigating the shooting.

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