CHICAGO (AP) – A Chicago mayoral candidate has donated $5,000 to the mother of a college student shot to death by a police officer.
Businessman Willie Wilson says his donation to the mother of Quintonio LeGrier has nothing to do with his mayoral campaign. Wilson gave money to Janet Cooksey on Monday.
Officer Robert Rialmo was responding to a domestic disturbance call in December 2015 when he fatally shot LeGrier, who he said swung a bat at him. Also killed was 55-year-old Bettie Jones, who was standing near LeGrier.
Wilson’s donation comes after a Cook County jury’s confusing finding in a lawsuit over LeGrier’s death. Though the jury awarded $1.05 million, it also found Rialmo was reasonable in fearing death or great bodily harm. A judge threw out the award.
A weeping Cooksey described her son, whose 22nd birthday would have been Monday, as a “beautiful person.”