A Midlothian, Ill., police officer gave "multiple verbal commands" to security officer Jemel Roberson to drop his gun and get on the ground before fatally shooting Roberson at a Robbins bar Sunday morning, according to a preliminary Illinois State Police report released late Tuesday.
State police cited "witness statements" in the report.
Roberson, who was black, was working security at the bar. The preliminary report says that Roberson was wearing "plain black clothing with no markings readily identifying him as a Security Guard," and was "armed with a gun in the west parking lot" of the bar when the Midlothian officer, who is white and was responding to a "shots fired" call at the bar, came upon him.
The report by state police contradicts claims made by an attorney for Roberson's family that Roberson was wearing a hat that had "security" printed on it. The lawyer has also said witnesses told him several people called out to the officer that Roberson was a security guard.
The investigation found that about 4 a.m. "an armed suspect (had) entered the lounge and opened fire striking multiple people inside the establishment." Officers from Robbins, Midlothian and other suburban departments had responded.
The preliminary investigation revealed Roberson, 26, of Chicago, was "attempting to subdue a subject suspected to be involved in the initial shooting" at Manny's Blue Room Lounge, 2911 S. Claire Blvd. in Robbins, according to witnesses.
"According to witness statements, the (unidentified) Midlothian Officer gave the armed subject (Roberson) multiple verbal commands to drop the gun and get on the ground before ultimately discharging his weapon and striking the subject," state police said.
The state police report said "officers readily provided medical assistance to multiple gunshot victims, including Roberson. Roberson was transported to a local area hospital where he was pronounced deceased."
The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force was requested by Midlothian police to conduct an independent investigation of the officer's use of force. The Cook County sheriff's office is investigating the initial shooting.
The state police report was issued at the end of a day during which questions were still being asked about the shooting and emotions still ran high. Online commenters and a small group of protesters outside the Midlothian police station Tuesday night said that Roberson was being a "good guy with a gun" and that he was shot by police because he's black.
