Joshua Beal, of Indianapolis, arrived in Chicago Saturday (Nov. 5) for a funeral, and unfortunately was shot and killed in a police involved shooting.
According to police, the shooting occurred after a vehicle leaving a nearby cemetery was stopped in traffic in front of a firehouse. A firefighter stated the car was illegally blocking the lane. From there, those in the vehicle got out and a verbal and physical argument erupted. An off-duty Chicago cop was in a nearby business and reportedly assisted the firefighter. A police sergeant driving to work saw the altercation and stopped when he noticed a man holding a gun. After the man “failed to drop his weapon, shots were fired striking the individual multiple times,” police said. The sergeant fired the shots.
Beal, a father of two was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center where he died from his injuries. Beal’s family however, has a different story. They say an off-duty cop in an unmarked car cut off one of the vehicles during the funeral procession. After a verbal exchange, gunfire began but Beal’s family said he didn’t provoke the officer, but stated he had a weapon with a permit.
“This is what CPD do. They tear our families a part over and over again. They have no consideration for life,” Tiffaney Boxley, Beal’s mother said. “Chicago police gunned my baby down like a vicious animal. They shot him twice in the back and three times in his front.”
The officer involved in the shooting will be placed on a routine 30 day administrative leave, while the Independent Police Review Authority investigates.