Rockford men sue city over questionable murder conviction

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) - Two men freed after more than a decade in prison on a questionable murder conviction are suing the city of Rockford and several current and former police detectives.

Lumont Johnson and Anthony Ross were convicted in the death of an 8-year-old boy. The boy, DeMarcus Hanson, was killed in April 2002 by gunshots fired through a window of his grandmother's home. Hanson was not the intended target of what police believe was a gang-related shooting.

Johnson, Ross and a third man had their convictions overturned in 2013 after doubts emerged about a key witness.

The Rockford Register Star reports (http://bit.ly/18YTxO7 ) that the lawsuit seeks damages for "physical injury and sickness and emotional pain and suffering."

City Attorney Patrick Hayes says he cannot comment because he hasn't yet seen the suit.

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Information from: Rockford Register Star, http://www.rrstar.com