Officers Hold Vigil as Accused Killer's Trial Continues

Nathaniel Taylor Jr., known by his friends as "Nate," was killed by a convicted felon as officers attempted to execute a search warrant, police said

As the trial of an accused cop killer continued Tuesday, a throng of officers filled the seventh-floor courtroom and prayed outside the building.

Ofc. Nathaniel Taylor was killed in September 2008 as he was trying to serve a warrant at a south side Chicago home. The man on trial, Lamar Cooper, returned to the home and is accused of opening fire on Taylor after Taylor identified himself as a police officer.

"One of our officers was killed in the line of duty and the trial is taking place, and we need to remind the public of the fact that being the police is a very, very dangerous job," said Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Pat Camden.

Judge Nick Ford’s courtroom was filled with officers as prosecutors took jurors step-by-step through the evidence. At one point, the medical examiner described how one of Taylor's three gunshot wounds was likely suffered when he raised his arms to protect himself.

Questioning by defense attorneys during cross examination seems to suggest they're mounting a self-defense case.

The trial is expected to wrap up by the end of the week.

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