A Chicago police officer has been charged in connection with an off-duty shooting last March, the Cook County State's Attorney announced Monday.
Officer Dante Servin faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless discharge of a firearm and reckless conduct in the shooting of 22-year-old Rekia Boyd on Chicago’s West Side, according to the state's attorney.
“It is a sad and difficult day for law enforcement when an incident such as this occurs and criminal charges are warranted,” State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez said. “But this defendant’s reckless decisions and conduct in opening fire in an occupied alleyway caused the violent death of an innocent woman whose life was cut far too short by this senseless tragedy.”
Boyd was shot in the back of the head while walking with another man near 15th and Albany Avenue.
The family's attorney said the off-duty officer got into an argument with the man Boyd was walking with, and at some point the officer pulled his gun and fired shots. Boyd and her friend, neither of whom were armed, were both shot, the attorney said.
Boyd's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit last April. The family was awarded a settlement.
"This woman lost her life. She was doing nothing, shot in the back of the head," Alvarez said.
The suit names the officers involved, former police lieutenant Jon Burge and former police detectives Daniel McWeeny and Raymond Madigan, along with the City of Chicago.
Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Pat Camden attended Servin's bond hearing along with several other officers, and said the highly-decorated police detective felt threatened that evening.
"The officer was defending himself from an individual that had a weapon and was coming at him," Camden said.
Servin was released on bond but has been stripped of his police powers until after the trial.
