By Angela Rozas
The Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — Shootings by Chicago police since Wednesday have left two men dead and three others injured, including a man wounded Monday night on the West Side.
Before the latest shooting, police attributed the spike to a climate of violence in some communities, but some victims’ relatives blamed it on overzealous policing.
Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said three shootings over the weekend involved individuals who confronted police with weapons.
“I think given the climate of violence being experienced in some of the most challenging districts, the officers are being challenged with trying to keep the peace and trying to keep the community safe,” she said.
The latest incident took place about 7:45 p.m. Monday in the 1100 block of North Harding Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood, said Officer John Mirabelli, a police spokesman. He said police shot and wounded an armed offender who had confronted them. A weapon was recovered at the scene. No other injuries were reported, Mirabelli said.
Paramedics took the man to Stroger Hospital in serious but stable condition.
The Independent Police Review Authority, which is probing the shootings, was at the scene Monday night, said spokesman Mark Payne.
Late Sunday night, Reginald Knight, 26, of the 10800 block of South Parnell Avenue was shot multiple times after he confronted officers with a gun, police said. The fatal shooting happened in the 300 block of West 109th Place at about 11:20 p.m. The police review authority said a gun was found at the scene.
In recent years, Knight had 18 misdemeanor arrests for drugs, trespassing, assault, battery and disorderly conduct.
Devon Young, 26, of the 5900 block of South Lafayette Avenue was shot and killed Saturday after officers responded to gunfire, authorities said. Payne said a gun was recovered from that scene in the 5800 block of South Wabash Avenue.
Neighbors said Young was running with two other men when he was shot. Young had a criminal history dating back nine years, including felony convictions for burglaries in 2003 and 2004 for which he was sentenced to 4 years in prison.
A neighbor said Young had a gun, but that he wasn’t carrying it that night.
“They didn’t have to do that,” Tony Parker said.
Jonathan Pinkerton, 16, was shot Wednesday evening in the 13000 block of South Drexel Avenue. Police said he confronted them with a gun. He was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated assault to an officer.
Sharon Burton said her son was with other teens and ran with them when police approached. She denied he was armed and said he was a good student at Corliss High School. She said her son is paralyzed from the shooting and remains hospitalized.
“I want justice,” Burton said. “We’re supposed to be glad to see the police, but we’re scared.”
Police also shot and injured a man at 7:35 p.m. Saturday in the 5900 block of South Michigan Avenue. A handgun was recovered, police said.
Copyright 2008 The Chicago Tribune