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Chicago Cop Sued For Fatally Shooting Black Teenager

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Amber Randall Civil Rights Reporter
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The family of a black teenager sued the Chicago police officer responsible for fatally shooting him.

Kajuan Raye’s family announced Tuesday they had filed the wrongful death lawsuit against the police officer who shot him and the city, reports ABC 7 Chicago.

The lawsuit identifies the officer as Sgt. John Poulos.

“We gonna get justice for my brother. It’s gotta stop. It’s hitting home now, it’s gotta stop,” said sister Kai Raye.

A police officer fatally shot Raye, 18, when he fled the scene last Wednesday, police said. A sergeant arrived on the scene after police received a call about a “battery in progress.” When the sergeant approached Raye and identified himself as an officer, Raye took off, according to police. (RELATED: Chicago’s Top Cop Relieves Officer Of His ‘Police Powers’ After Fatal Shooting)

The sergeant claimed Raye turned and pointed a gun at him twice, leading the officer to fire at Raye multiple times. “There was no gun. There still is no gun. And there won’t be a gun, because Kajuan did not have a gun. He was unarmed,” attorney Michael Oppenheimer maintained.

Investigators have yet to find the gun that Raye allegedly carried. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson announced Saturday the sergeant’s police powers had been stripped pending the completion of an investigation.

“I have concerns about this incident,” Johnson said, adding this is the most serious measure that can be taken against an officer during an open investigation.

Poulos was involved in a similar fatal police shooting in 2013, according to an Independent Police Review Authority report. Poulos, who was off-duty at the time, tried to prevent a man who was allegedly breaking into an empty apartment.

The man threatened him multiple times before charging at Poulos and pulling a metallic-like object out from his waistband, Poulos told investigators.

A gun was not found at the scene, but investigators did find a “large chrome colored” watch near the man.

The shooting was ruled justified.

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