Questions remain after interim head of the Independent Police Review Authority Sharon Fairley held a brief news conference to address two separate police-involved shootings on Saturday.
The first shooting occurred on Chicago's West Side at 4:25 a.m. Saturday morning. Officers responded to a domestic disturbance call in the 4700 block of West Erie, according to a statement from the Chicago Police Office of News Affairs.
Bettie Jones, a 57-year-old mother of five, and 19-year-old Northern Illinois University student Quintonio LeGrier were both shot and killed.
Neighbors and family members at the scene said the domestic disturbance stemmed from LeGrier threatening another man with a baseball bat. Jones, who lived in the same building, opened the door for police.
Shortly before 9:30 a.m., Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy said in a press conference that upon arriving, officers "were confronted by a combative individual, resulting in an officer firing shots, fatally wounding two individiuals. The matter is under investigation by the Independent Police Review Authority and further questions regarding this matter should be directed to them."
The second police-involved shooting occurred at 1:25 p.m. when officers respo assault on the 1000 block of West 103rd Place in the Washington Heights neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, police say.
The Chicago Fire Department confirmed that one person was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in serious-to-critical condition with a gunshot wound. Neither police nor the hospital would confirm the victim's identity, but family members told NBC 5 that he is 23-year-old Mekel Lumpkin. News Affairs confirmed that one weapon was recovered from the scene, but further details were not released.
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Just before 4:30 p.m., IPRA chief Sharon Fairley addressed both shootings in a conference at the scene of the second shooting. Her remarks lasted for 1 minute and 15 seconds, and she took no questions.
"Our objectives are to conduct thorough and timely investigations of each incident," she said. "At this time, our focus is on collecting the evidence and identifying and interviewing all witnesses. At this time, it would be inappropriate for me to answer any further questions or provide any further comment on the details of what happened."
"I understand all Chicagoans are anxious for answers as to what happened here, and we will provide any and all information at the appropriate time," she added. "I thank you in advance and I ask for your patience"
