Nov 14, 2007 10:31 pm US/Central
Family Wants Justice For Rapper Shot By Cops
Freddie Wilson Was Fatally Shot Tuesday Night Near His Producer's South Side Home
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Chicago rapper Freddie Wilson, 34, was fatally shot by Chicago police.
ChiRadio.com
Friends and family members of a local rapper shot by police are demanding justice. As CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports, 34-year-old Freddie Wilson was killed Tuesday near Lorel Avenue and Madison Street.
"I loved him dearly," said Bobbi Brown. "He was a good guy. He was my favorite cousin and y'all took that from me."
Wilson's family could not hide their anger Wednesday night.
"Bein' angry is not getting me anywhere," said Wilson's father, Fred McGee. "I just want the law to take care of the law."
They want to know why the father of three was gunned down by Chicago police after what friends say was a quick trip to the store.
"I really don't know what to say," said longtime friend Eric Brown. "We just want to know what happened."
Police shot Wilson outside his music producer's home in the South Austin neighborhood late Tuesday night.
"At first I thought it was people shooting back and forth at each other, you know, because of how many shots were going on," said one neighborhood resident.
Iliana Rosenzweig, the head of the Independent Police Review Authority, formerly the Office of Professional Standards, says initial reports state police pulled Wilson over for a traffic violation and later found a gun at the scene.
But one eyewitness, who feared police retaliation if identified, told CBS 2 a very different story, saying it was not a traffic stop and that Wilson was parked already.
"He was holdin' his hands up, lettin' the officers know he didn't have a gun or anything on him. They kept on firing anyway."
Rosenzweig says there will a thorough investigation, adding none of the facts will be prejudged. But those who know Wilson are already convinced his was not a justified shooting.
"I've known Freddie for about 15 years," Eric Brown said. "He's a great guy. All he ever wanted to do was have his rap career realized and take care of his kids, take care of his family."
This is the first police-involved shooting for the newly formed Independent Police Review Authority to look into. The head of it says one of the authority's goals is to restore trustworthiness to the way these types of shootings are investigated. So, all facts are under review but it isn't clear how long the investigation will take.
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