An Illinois mother has filed a lawsuit against the city of Country Club Hills and several police officers after nearly two dozen SWAT officers entered her home during a raid and shot her 12-year-old son in his bed.
The lawsuit stems from an incident that occurred on May 26, 2019. Multiple Country Club Hills and Richton Park SWAT officers came into Crystal Worship’s home with exploding flash-grenades and automatic rifles to execute a search warrant intended for her boyfriend. They allegedly “battered open the two entry doors and set off between two and five flash-bang grenades,” and went to the children’s bedroom and shouted commands at them.
The suit alleges that an officer pointed his gun directly at Worships 12-year-old son, Amir. After asking how old he was, the officer allegedly “pulled him up and off of his bed and told him to sit on his brother’s bed… and to put a shirt one.”
Just 30 seconds later, another officer went into the room and allegedly told Amir to to put his shoes on, but then took the shoes away when he tried to obey orders. The officer then asked him which shoes in the room were his and inspected them with a flashlight.
The lawsuit claims that while giving the shoe back to Amir and trying to put his flashlight away, “the officer quickly moved his right hand back to the handle and trigger of his rifle, grabbing it and firing it.”
After Amir was shot in the knee, the officer allegedly “covered his badge with black tape and covered his body camera.”
Amir was taken to the hospital after the bullet “entered his joint and partially exited the back of his leg on the right side.” The injury required surgery.
He stayed in the hospital for four days after his surgery and later returned because he developed complications from an infection.
“According to an orthopedic doctor, Amir will not be able to play any sports again, will have difficulty in physical education, will walk with a limp, and will have difficulty walking and running for the rest of his life,” the lawsuit states.
“There is a silent epidemic of trauma being perpetrated upon the children and families of color by Chicago and South Suburban police barreling into the wrong homes, handcuffing innocent adults, holding guns on children, handcuffing children, trashing their homes, refusing to show warrants, and screaming dehumanizing commands,” Al Hofeld Jr., the family’s attorney, said.
“Now, children are being shot in their beds,” he added.
The family is seeking $50,000 in the damages from the lawsuit.
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