The mother of a 13-month-old boy who died when a car fleeing the scene of a fatal shooting slammed into his stroller is suing the Chicago police officers involved in the incident, alleging they ignored orders to stop a pursuit that ultimately ended her son's life.
The civil suit was filed by Shatrelle McComb Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court against the city, Chicago police officers and 21-year-old Antoine Watkins.
Police say Watkins was driving a vehicle that matched the description of one that fled the scene of a fatal shooting in the 7700 block of South Kingston Avenue in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood. After the shooting, police say the vehicle crashed into a group of people at the intersection of 63rd and Ellis, striking the toddler, who was with his mother.
Dillan was taken to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The complaint claims Watkins, who was arrested and charged in the toddler’s murder, was being chased by police officers as he ran several red lights, traveling between 60 and 70 miles per hour through a residential neighborhood.
The suit alleges that the Office of Emergency Management and Communications or Chicago police supervisors told officers chasing Watkins to stop the chase because of the “high risk of danger to pedestrians,” but the officers continued and the pursuit lasted for about 20 minutes.
Watkins was charged with one felony count of murder, a misdemeanor count of attempting to elude police and a citation for driving without insurance following the fatal crash. He was denied bail during a hearing last week.
Prosecutors said Watkins was on probation at the time of the shooting and had a previous felony and misdemeanor charge.
Chicago police said it could not comment on pending litigation.