A Shocking Story of How a Chicago Cop Killed a Teen -- Then Locked Up His Best Friend for the Murder

[KamaAina]

http://www.democracynow.org/2016/8/22/a_shocking_story_of_how_a

In 2012, 19-year-old Tevin Louis and his best friend Marquise Sampson allegedly robbed a restaurant. After reportedly making off with about $1,200, the two ran in different directions. Sampson crossed paths with an officer, who gave chase and ultimately opened fire, killing the teenager. Louis arrived at the scene where his friend was shot, and attempted to cross the police line. He was arrested for disorderly conduct. But in a shocking turn, Louis was eventually charged with first-degree murder in the death of his best friend, even though it was the officer who killed Sampson. Louis was found guilty. He is now serving a 32-year sentence for armed robbery and a 20-year sentence for murder. Louis is one of 10 people with similar cases exposed in the Chicago Reader’s new article headlined “Charged with Murder, But They Didn’t Kill Anyone—Police Did.” For more, we speak with the article’s authors: Alison Flowers, a journalist with the Chicago-based Invisible Institute, and Sarah Macaraeg, an independent journalist and fellow with the International Center for Journalists....

He is one of 10 people with similar cases exposed in the Chicago Reader's new article headlined, "Charged with Murder, But They Didn't Kill Anyone—Police Did." The piece documents how, since 2011, police have killed at least 10 civilians in Chicago, then charged someone else with the murder. The article also explores a little-known legal statute in Illinois Criminal Code known as the felony murder rule, which can apply if a suspect in a felony is said to have set in motion a chain of events that led to the death of another person....

SARAH MACARAEG: It’s good to be with you, Amy. I’m glad that we’re able to talk about these cases, because, as you mentioned, Tevin Louis is just one of 10 cases that we looked at like this in Cook County. The way that he was held responsible, as you mentioned, all boils down to the felony murder rule. It’s a highly controversial legal doctrine that relies on a theory of accountability that, in the commission of a felony, someone sets into motion—sets in motion a chain of events that leads to the death of another individual. Unfortunately, even though the law is highly controversial, it actually exists in the vast majority of states across the U.S. Reliant on the felony murder rule, Tevin Louis was charged with murder. These prosecutions are allowed for, because the felony murder rule is enshrined in Illinois Criminal Code. And he was found guilty. He refused to take a plea deal on his friend’s murder, and he was found guilty by a jury. And, you know, what we—

SARAH MACARAEG: Yeah, and the shooting was found justified, and it was found justified under highly, you know, questionable circumstances, I would say. The Independent Police Review Authority, which found the shooting justified, when you read their summary of their investigation, so much of it relies on simply the officer’s account that Marquise Sampson pulled his weapon on him. But, you know, we FOIAed the video. The video is highly obscured. There is no situation in which it’s clear that Marquise Sampson ever pulled his weapon on Dicarlo. Dicarlo’s own history, you know, is one of which it’s very important to take note. The officer has more than 20 misconduct complaints on his record, one of which involves the improper use of a weapon. And really, the whole finding of the shooting being justified was very much reliant on just the officer’s account. And also, you know, the evidence that’s cited in the video, even though the shooting itself is obscured, I mean, the evidence that’s cited by IPRA is just simply the fact that Marquise Sampson was allegedly holding his waistband. So, the finding itself is very thin.

[metroins]

1. Person killed during a felony

Accomplices are charged with murder.

I disagree with the law.

I'm not too quick to judge a cop that shot a robber though.