Officer Who Shot Illinois Bar Bouncer Used ‘Excessive’ Force: Lawsuit

The Illinois police officer who shot an armed bar bouncer to death used excessive force, according to a federal lawsuit filed on Monday. The mother of 26-year-old Jemel Roberson filed the suit in U.S. District Court, claiming the Midlothian police officer “was unprovoked” when he shot Roberson while responding to a bar shooting Sunday. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the suit alleges: “The shooting death of the Decedent, Jemel Roberson, was unjustified. The shooting death of the Decedent, Jemel Roberson, was excessive and unreasonable.” While the Cook County Sheriff’s Office said Roberson was shot by the unnamed officer inside the bar, the lawsuit alleges Roberson was shot outside. According to the newspaper, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that Roberson “died of multiple gunshot wounds” and ruled his death a homicide. The Midlothian police officer was reportedly responding to a shooting at Manny’s Blue Room early Sunday morning when he allegedly saw Roberson and fatally shot him. Witnesses to the shooting claim everyone was shouting that Roberson was a security guard, but the officer shot him anyway.