Family of man shot to death by CPD files suit

The Cochran Firm, with 21 locations nationwide

By Charles Thomas

August 13, 2007 - The family of a young man shot and killed by Chicago Police has filed a lawsuit against the city and the police department. Their attorney say the city has confiscated a videotape from a camera pointed at the scene the night of the shooting.

Aaron Harrison was shot and killed August 6. His family's attorney has not seen the tape, but they believe it will show what happened last Monday night. A police spokeswoman says all available "useful" video is under review. And she had no knowledge of any recordings that would make it clear what really happened.

"What we know is the city has a video from that camera...it will tell the truth and if the city is interested in the truth, you will know the truth and we will know the truth very quickly," said attorney James Montgomery, Junior.

Attorney James Montgomery, Junior was halfway through the news conference when he made the first public mention of possible video evidence in the police shooting of 18-year-old Aaron Harrison. In the alley where Harrison was struck by one bullet, there is an overhead camera mounted one block away on a halfway house.

"You have heard nothing from the City of Chicago in regard to the video that came from that camera. It is our understanding based on our conversations with the witnesses that the City of Chicago has this video," said Montgomery, Jr.

If such a video does exist it could help investigators determine whether Harrison, while running away from officers last Monday, turned and pointed a 9mm pistol at his pursuers.

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond told ABC7 that "Any and all video that we believe will be useful will be part of the investigation." She said police have reviewed video from one of their own cameras three blocks away, but to her knowledge, "any other video was not useful."

Also, Montgomery said his firm's private investigators have found witnesses who say that Harrison did not have a weapon and was holding up his baggy pants while he ran. And, with the victim's mother a few feet away, the attorney demonstrated where the young man -- who allegedly pointed a gun at police -- was shot.

"I'm here today tell you a young boy was shot in his back -- not in his shoulder, in his back," said Montgomery, Jr.

And Montgomery advised, the witnesses his firm's private detectives have found, are not necessarily cooperating with police investigators.

"The police have come to their homes and, in their words, intimidated them," said Montgomery, Jr.

The Cook County medical examiner's office told ABC7 it has not revised its findings on Harrison's gunshot wound. The ME found Harrison was shot in the upper back of his shoulder and the injury is consistent with the police explanation that he was pointing a gun and turning at the time.

Harrison's family is suing the Chicago Police Department and the city. They believe he was shot in the back and was not armed.

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