CHICAGO — The family of 24-year-old Reginald Clay Jr., who police shot and killed this weekend in North Lawndale, is suing the officer behind the shooting, saying he violated the Police Department’s foot chase policy.
The officer, who is unnamed in the suit, killed Clay using “unprovoked and unwarranted” deadly force while Clay was trying to “avoid being hassled,” according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit asks for damages to be paid to Clay’s family — including his 3-year-old daughter — and for his funeral costs to be covered.
On Saturday morning, Clay, an Amazon worker, was planning to go the funeral of a family friend, according to the lawsuit. He was in the 3800 block of West Flournoy Street, leaning over a car and talking to other people, where police arrived, according to the lawsuit.
The police “attempted to seize” Clay even though there was no evidence a crime was taking place, according to the family. Clay ran away from officers “to avoid being hassled,” according to the suit.
The officer chased Clay and shot him several times “without just cause of provocation,” killing the young father, according to the lawsuit.
Clay’s family has suffered his loss, and they also want the officer held accountable because Clay lived for a short time after the shooting and experienced “pain and suffering,” according to the lawsuit.
Police have refused to answer questions about why the officer tried to stop Clay. And the department has given a differing account of the shooting.
Officers were patrolling the area after a reputed gang member was killed in the neighborhood last week, Deputy Chief Rahman Muhammad said during a news conference Saturday.
They spotted several people in the area, one of whom was leaning into a car, Muhammad said.
Officers got out of their car and went up to the man, who ran away through a gangway, police said. Clay “turned toward an officer with a firearm,” and the officer shot him, police said.
A gun was found at the scene, officials have said.
“This is a tragic incident that occurred,” Muhammad said.
In a statement Monday, Civilian Office of Police Accountability officials said officers chased Clay as he ran through one gangway, into a backyard and into a second gangway with a dead end. Clay turned run out of the gangway, toward the officers, at which point one of the officers shot him, officials said.
Civilian Office of Police Accountability officials did not say whether Clay raised or pointed a weapon at the officers. He had a gun, which was found at the scene, the watchdog’s officials said.
Family members told ABC Chicago Clay had a valid FOID card for the weapon.
Leaders of the police watchdog agency said they will work to expedite the release of video, audio and police reports related to the shooting.
The officers involved were place on routine administrative duties for the next 30 days.
The Police Department’s foot chase policy has come under intense scrutiny in recent years after officers shot and killed 13-year-old Adam Toledo and 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez in separate chases just days apart in March 2021.
The department revamped its policy, but critics have said it still widely allows police chases, which can put at risk officers, the people being chased and bystanders.
Clay’s family’s lawsuit alleges the officer who shot him violated the policy.
The policy states a person simply fleeing police is not a sufficient reason for an officer to pursue them, and cops need a justification to do so, such as an unlawful use of weapon or domestic battery.
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