Report: Body finds fatal police shooting in 2015 unjustified

CHICAGO (AP) - A Chicago police disciplinary body has ruled an officer's fatal shooting of a 19-year-old carrying a baseball bat the day after Christmas in 2015 was unjustified.

The Chicago Tribune reported Thursday on the finding in Quintonio LeGrier's death, citing documents from an open-records request. LeGrier's case drew national attention two years ago.

Officer Robert Rialmo has said he fired when LeGrier swung the bat at him from a few feet away as Rialmo responded to a domestic disturbance. Rialmo also accidentally killed a bystander, Bettie Jones, standing behind LeGrier.

The Tribune says the Dec. 22 ruling by Civilian Office of Police Accountability concludes LeGrier didn't swing at Rialmo and was farther away when Rialmo fired.

The officer's attorney, Joel Brodsky, calls the finding "a political decision" and not one based on evidence.

___

Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com