Written by More police brutality
Jimmell Cannon, 13, was shot 8 times in the shoulders, hand, and leg by Chicago Police on Monday in West Humboldt Park neighborhood. While he is at Stroger Hospital in serious-to-critical condition, his family is looking for answers. The way they saw the events unfold is not the same thing Chicago Police report.
According to NBC Chicago, “Chicago Police say a 13-year-old boy was pointing a weapon at officers when they were forced to shoot him….but the teen’s family said Jimmell Cannon wasn’t holding a gun and that his hands were up in the air when shots were fired.” Cannon’s family says that they were at a birthday party for a cousin when the shooting took place. NBC Chicago reports in more detail:
“Police said in a statement that officers were responding to reports of gunshots around 11 p.m. when they tried to talk to the teen in the 4200 Block of West Cortez. Jimmell Cannon apparently matched the description of the gunman. The Fraternal Order of Police said the boy had what appeared to be a pistol in his hand and ran away from the officers…The teen then refused orders to drop the gun, according to police, and pointed it in the direction of the officers. An officer fired, striking him. The Fraternal Order of Police said the officers handled the situation properly because a weapon was pointed at them.”
Police later discovered the weapon was just a BB gun. Cannon’s father, Jimmy Porter, says that his son is in stable condition and is expected to recover. He did add, however, that his son was shot twice in the same hand, and that his hand might have the most serious injury.
