An East Chicago Police officer has been exonerated in a July shooting, while the man who was shot — whose uncle, an E.C. councilman, defended him — has been charged with several felonies in the incident.
Curtis Lamar Hill, 44, was charged with aggravated Battery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, pointing a firearm, unlawful carrying of a firearm by a violent convicted felon, and resisting law enforcement, East Chicago Police Chief Jose Rivera announced in a statement Saturday. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, meanwhile, cleared Officer Jose Vega “of any wrongdoing,” Rivera said.
“Officer Vega displayed courage and professionalism in the face of a dangerous and rapidly evolving situation,” Rivera said his statement. “His actions are a powerful reminder of the challenges law enforcement officers face every day in service to our city.”
Rivera, in his remarks, also condemned East Chicago Councilman Terrence Hill, D-3, for comments he made to the Post-Tribune immediately after the shooting. Hill told the Post-Tribune that witnesses to the shooting told him his nephew spoke to the man, who became agitated with him but left the scene.
The man returned, however, with his face painted black and a hammer with which he started attacking Hill’s nephew, Hill claimed, adding that to his knowledge, Curtis Hill didn’t have a gun.
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“All those witnesses told me they shot him in the back,” Hill said. “Police came after they detected a shot on Spotshotter; they came and grabbed the camera footage from (a local business) too because they’re trying to save their (expletive).
“I’m real hot, very pissed off. I’m friends with (Rivera), but I’m trying to protect my family. I’ve already contacted a few lawyers.”
Rivera was critical of Terrence Hill’s comments.
“At no point did Councilman Hill speak to myself or any detectives prior to releasing these claims to the media,” Rivera said. “His comments are not supported by evidence and were made without the benefit of any factual investigation.
“False public statements of this nature only serve to incite fear, anger, and mistrust in the community. In the interest of transparency and public trust, I felt it was critical to release these facts and correct the record after a thorough investigation was completed.”
At around 5:54 p.m. July 22, Vega responded to a ShotSpotter alert indicating that one round had been fired in the vicinity of 5000 Melville Ave., Rivera said. Vega found a man with a graze wound to his leg between 5000 Melville and Kennedy Avenues and began rendering aid while waiting for medics to arrive, he said.
As they waited, the victim pointed out a man approaching the scene who Vega noted had a handgun “visibly protruding” from his waistband, Rivera said. When Vega moved toward the man — later identified as Curtis Hill — he “turned and fled on foot, ignoring repeated commands to stop,” then pointed the gun at Vega, he said.
Despite Vega’s commands, Curtis Hill didn’t stop, so Vega shot him, Rivera said.
Vega took Curtis Hill into custody and rendered medical aid until medics arrived. Curtis Hill was then taken first to St. Catherine’s and transported to the University of Chicago, where he was listed in serious but stable condition, the Post-Tribune previously reported.
East Chicago contacted the Lake County Sheriff’s Department to investigate; East Chicago did say they “recovered a weapon from the suspect at the scene,” the Post-Tribune previously reported.
Curtis Hill is currently in custody at the Lake County Jail, court records state.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.