A civil jury has determined Police Officers Patrick Kelly and Antonio Corral and the City of Chicago are partially liable for the 2014 fatal shooting of 21-year-old Hector Hernandez.
Eight years ago, Officers Kelly and Corral shot Hernandez 13 times after they responded to a call in the Gage Park neighborhood concerning a domestic incident. At the time officers arrived, Hernandez was having mental health issues and held a knife to his own throat. The Hernandez family’s attorney, Antonio Romanucci, said the 21-year-old needed human kindness and understanding, not “aggression.” Eight of the 13 shots went into the back of the young man.
Once the incident was resolved, police say Hernandez approached Officers Kelly and Corral. The shots were fired on the 2500 block of West 50th Street, the home of the young man’s girlfriend.
The Hernandez children were awarded almost $750,000 by a civil jury for the 2014 fatal shooting. The family
would have received more money, however, the jury determined Hernandez was 45 percent responsible for his own shooting.
Romanucci stated: As we approach the 8-year anniversary of Hector’s death, his young children continue to grieve the loss of their father. Today’s verdict provides a measure of justice for the family but can never replace the loss of a father who was truly loved. This young man in crisis needed to be met with help and human compassion, not aggression and weapons.
On April 7, 2014, Hernandez and his girlfriend fought while he prepared to take their son to Chuck E. Cheese and the police were called to the scene. Hernandez was having a mental health crisis when officers arrived and surrounded him because the young man was holding a knife to his throat threatening to harm himself.
Hernandez attempted to move away from the officers when Kelly and Corral opened fire. He was shot 13 times and eight of those shots were into the back of the 21-year-old.
The Chicago Police Department responded to the Sun-Times with “no comment.”
Written by Jeanette Vietti
Sources:
Audacity: Jury finds two former Chicago Police officers liable in 2014 fatal shooting; by Mike Krauser
Daily Herald: Jury awards $742,500 to family of man shot by Chicago police
Chicago Sun-Times: Jury awards $742K to family of dad killed by cops while having mental health crisis; by Sophie Sherry
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