Angry At Police, Residents Also Upset Over Late Vigils For Slain Man

CHICAGO (CBS) – Police Supt. Eddie Johnson believes police did not intentionally disarm body cameras before shooting 18-year-old Paul O'Neal last week.

O'Neal allegedly rammed two police vehicles with a stolen car and then took off running when he was shot in the back.

Residents in the South Shore neighborhood say the officers who fired at O'Neal were reckless, but, as Jim Williams reports, neighbors are not only angry at police.

On this block, former Chicago Bear Charlie Brown built a lavish backyard garden, every front lawn is perfect and many of the residents have lived here for 40 plus years.

All of that tranquility was shattered Thursday night.

In the 7300 block of South Merrill, Paul O'Neal was fatally shot in Dr. Robert Evans' yard.

"It was very disturbing for my wife, my grandson and my son," Dr. Evans said.

Residents were quick to say they respect police and understand how difficult the job is, but the neighbors are angry that officers opened fired where the neighbors walk dogs and cook out.

"We don't know how many rounds were fired," Brown said. "We're certain there was more than three. A bullet gone astray wreaks havoc."

"Is the loss of a car worth more than his life? The answer to that is no."

And they are outraged at something else: Late night vigils for O'Neal, including one that turned violent.

"Why do you have to come at 11, 12 o'clock to protest something?" said Margaret Knighton.

Their request is simple: for respect and good judgment.

"This is a neighborhood and it gives you all of the security and serenity a real neighborhood gives you," said Brown. "That's what we want people to know. And you want to maintain that. It's a value and it's worth maintaining."

One activist told neighbors he would try to persuade protesters not to stage any more vigils at 73rd and Merrill

Brown said he doubts such a shooting would have happened in Lincoln Park.