CHICAGO (AP) — The family of a college student who was shot to death by police has amended a lawsuit claiming actions of the officer who fired the shots amounted to a hate crime.
The lawyer for the father of 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier says the personal texts of Officer Robert Rialmo showed racial bias.
The Chicago Tribune reports Rialmo’s attorney is calling the allegations of racism “stupid and irresponsible.” Rialmo’s attorney released copies of texts in which one of Rialmo’s friends, not Rialmo, used racial slurs while conversing with the officer in the days before LeGrier’s shooting.
Rialmo was responding to a 911 call for help when he fatally shot LeGrier, claiming LeGrier was coming at him with a bat. The officer also shot and killed a neighbor in what police said was an accident.