A Chicago police officer "accidentally struck and
tragically killed" a mother of five after responding to a domestic
disturbance, department officials say.
Bettie Jones, 55, was killed along with her neighbour,
19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier, who was the
reason for the police call-out early
on Saturday.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said an investigation had been
launched.
The city's police department is already the subject of a
federal investigation over its use of force.
It follows the killing of a black teenager by a white
officer in 2014.
'Public deserves answers'
Saturday's double shooting happened in the early hours.
Antonio LeGrier told the Chicago Sun-Times that he had returned home to find
his son, who had mental health issues, in an agitated state.
He said he called the police, and warned his neighbour
Bettie Jones, who lived on the floor below, about what was going on.
When the police arrived, he said, he heard gunshots and
found his son and Ms Jones lying in the foyer.
Chicago Police Department said in a statement that
"upon arrival, officers were confronted by a combative subject resulting
in the discharging of the officer's weapon, fatally wounding two individuals.
"The 55-year-old female victim was accidentally struck
and tragically killed. The department extends its deepest condolences to the
victim's family and friends."
Mayor Emanuel, in a statement, said: "Anytime an
officer uses force the public deserves answers, and regardless of the
circumstances, we all grieve anytime there is a loss of life in our city."
US Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced earlier this
month that a federal investigation into the Chicago Police Department would
focus on whether there was a racial dimension to its use of force and its
accountability procedures for officers involved in the use of force.
The announcement came after weeks of protest which followed
the release of video footage, showing the moment a police officer opened fire
on 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, shooting him 16 times, in 2014.
Credit: BBC
The officer, Jason Van Dyke, was charged with first-degree
murder just a few hours before the video was released in late November - more
than a year after the shooting.
In response to the outcry, Mayor Emanuel fired the city's
police chief and later announced the resignation of the Independent Police
Review Authority's chief.
Mr Emanuel originally said a federal investigation would be
"misguided", but later back-tracked and welcomed an investigation.
But will it be taken as an accident?
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