Medical issue delays trial of man accused of killing Cmdr. Paul Bauer

Testimony has been postponed until Tuesday in the trial of the man accused of killing Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer.

Judge Erica Reddick did not specify the cause of the postponement from the bench Monday morning. But sources told the Tribune that the delay was due to a medical issue with one of the parties.

The matter was not related to the novel coronavirus that has put public health agencies on high alert and led to various closures and cancellations, the sources said.

Jurors trying Shomari Legghette on first-degree murder charges still are expected to see further video footage from the afternoon of the incident, and the doctor who performed Bauer’s autopsy has yet to testify. Later in the week, Legghette himself is expected to take the stand.

Legghette contends the February 2018 shooting was a case of self-defense. He did not know Bauer was an officer, his attorney said in opening statements last week.

The dramatic chain of events leading to Bauer’s death began when officers patrolling Lower Wacker Drive approached Legghette, who appeared to be urinating against a wall or pillar.

Bauer, on duty and downtown for a meeting with aldermen after attending training for handling mass shootings earlier in the day, heard a radio call of a fleeing suspect and spotted Legghette running nearby moments later, authorities said.

Bauer chased Legghette to the top of a stairwell outside the Thompson Center and attempted to detain him, authorities said. The two struggled and ended up on a landing below.

Legghette, who was wearing body armor, drew a handgun and fired seven shots, fatally wounding Bauer, prosecutors have said.

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