CHICAGO, April 13 (UPI) — Traffic on Chicago’s Eisenhower Expressway was disrupted Tuesday night when a Black Lives Matter vigil held over the death of a 16-year-old boy turned into a march.
Several lanes of the expressway were blocked, and two protesters were arrested.
The march was preceded by a Black Lives Matter vigil mourning the death of 16-year-old Pierre Loury, who was shot and killed on Monday by Chicago police.
“They gunned down one of our brothers, they executed him — 16 years old, 16 years old. He should be here right now,” one person said at the vigil, Fox 32 reports.
Police stopped a car Monday evening that matched the description of one sought in an earlier shooting. Pierre jumped out of the car and tried to run from the scene on foot.
Chicago Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy said an “armed confrontation” followed, in which officers shot Pierre, whom police describe as a documented gang member, after he allegedly pointed a gun at police. Police said a weapon was recovered. A witness claims he saw officers “high five” one another after Pierre was shot down. Another witness said Pierre was climbing a fence when he was shot.
Pierre was pronounced dead at a local hospital due to gunshot wounds to the chest. His death was ruled a homicide.
“We do believe that this individual turned and pointed the handgun at the officer. The handgun was recovered at the scene where the young man was shot,” 1st Deputy Supt. John Escalante told reporters.
The officer who fired his gun has been placed on administrative duties for 30 days.
