CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – A licensed concealed carrier shot his neighbor after an argument escalated into a fistfight. CPD officers were dispatched at 4:45 p.m. to the 13000 block of South Avenue O in the Hegewisch neighborhood on the Far South Side.
The concealed carrier, a 42-year-old man, became involved in an argument initiated by his 53-year-old neighbor, who had been drinking. The verbal dispute escalated into a physical altercation, during which the 42-year-old drew and fired his handgun, wounding the other man in the upper right leg. The injured man was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center for treatment and was listed in good condition.
The 42-year-old was detained, and his handgun was recovered by police. Police spokeswoman Kellie Bartoli said the 42-year-old had been released without charges being filed. According to a statement by Bartoli, “The individual questioned, a 42-year-old male, was released without charging. The victim did not want to pursue charges at this time.” She could not comment on whether the man was released solely because the victim did not pursue charges or whether he would have been released anyway because of a valid self-defense claim.
Illinois does not have “Stand Your Ground” laws, but instead has justifiable force provisions. Under those, a person may use justifiable force to defend oneself or another person, their dwelling, or their property. Justifiable force is force which is equal to the threat posed by another person, and must be proportionate to the threat, and the force used must not exceed the threat. In Illinois, justifiable force is further broken down into regular force and deadly force.
Every case is unique, but if he were to face charges, the concealed carrier could face a difficult and costly legal battle to defend his actions of using a firearm in a fistfight.
