Office of the City Clerk - Record #: R2016-20

• Record #: R2016-20
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Failed to Pass
• Intro date: 1/13/2016
• Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Finance
• Title: Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Corporation Counsel urged to settle lawsuit against City regarding death of Bettie Ruth Jones
• Sponsors: Ervin, Jason C., Scott, Jr. Michael, Curtis, Derrick G., Taliaferro, Chris
• Topic: CITY DEPARTMENTS/AGENCIES - Law
• Related files: R2019-362

Date	Journal Page Number	Action By	Action	Result
5/29/2019		City Council	Failed to Pass
2/8/2016		Committee on Finance	Held in Committee	Pass
1/13/2016	17782	City Council	Referred

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, on the night of December 26^th, 2015, Bettie Ruth Jones, 55, lived in the 4700 block of West Erie Street, was the mother of five children and a grandmother, and was recovering from ovarian cancer with the hope of soon returning to work at the Alpha Baking bread factory; and

WHEREAS, on the evening of December 26^th, Antonio LeGrier, Ms. Jones' upstairs neighbor, called 911 because his son Quintonio LeGrier was wielding a baseball bat and threatening violence; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Grier called Bettie Jones to tell her to open the door for the police. Ms. Jones was responding to a knock on the door or a ring of her doorbell when a CPD officer shot a barrage of bullets through the door. Ms. Jones was wounded but the police officers on the scene did not provide medical attention. Furthermore, they stopped Ms. Jones' daughter Latisha from administering first aid. Bettie Jones died as a result of her injuries; and

WHEREAS, on the night of the shooting the Chicago Police Department issued the following statement: "The 55 year old female victim was accidentally struck and tragically killed. The department extends it's [sic] deepest condolences to the victim's family and friends."; and

WHEREAS, two of Bettie Jones' daughters have filed a lawsuit against the City for the death of their mother; and

WHEREAS, the residents of the City are still recovering from seeing the video of Laquan McDonald being shot sixteen times in the back by a police officer; and

WHEREAS, settling this case quickly will be most cost effective for the City of Chicago. Furthermore, the City will be unable to heal until justice is done for the family of Bettie Jones; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:

That the City Council strongly urges the Mayor and the Corporation Counsel to settle the
lawsuit by Bettie Jones' daughters as soon as possible.