Robert Rialmo, a Chicago police officer, filed a lawsuit Friday suing the estate of a teen he fatally shot, claiming the 19-year-old has caused him “extreme emotional trauma.”
Rialmo is seeking more than $180,000 worth of damages.
On December 26, Rialmo shot and killed 19-year-old college student Quintonio LeGrier.
Officer Robert Rialmo’s lawsuit was filed Friday amid Mayor Rahm Emanuel‘s efforts to win back public trust in the Chicago Police Department following the release of video last fall of an officer shooting to death 17-year-old Laquan McDonald on Oct. 20, 2014, and other cases of alleged police misconduct.
According to the officer’s lawsuit, Rialmo opened fire after Quintonio LeGrier allegedly swung a bat at his head at close range twice. LeGrier was shot when Rialmo saw him raising the bat again and thought LeGrier could kill him if LeGrier hit him in the head with the bat.
Of the eight bullets fired, one hit and killed LeGrier’s 55-year-old neighbor, Bettie Jones, who was standing behind LeGrier at the time. Police have ruled that death accidental.
The lawsuit is the first public account from Rialmo about what happened to 19 year old LeGrier on December 26.
The Rialmo shooting is one of a number of instances of alleged police misconduct, with McDonald’s shooting death in late 2014 being the most prominent, that have tainted the image of the Chicago Police Department.
