Man Fatally Shot by Police at Homewood Apartment Building

BlackHawks Fan January 31, 2013 at 03:31 pm

My condolences to you and all of his family!

AK February 1, 2013 at 01:57 pm

I do not consider myself ignorant Mike B., and nowhere did I say that I "snitched" on anyone Tobias. I was simply stating that the kids that live next door to me told one of my other neighbors that they don't live here. They are in high school, they both drive, therefore are over the age of 16. I would hope that by that age they would know the difference between "I don't live here", & "I like my dad's house better". I also did not say that they are here Monday through Friday, they probably stay 2-3 days out of the week. I do think it is sad that people have to "cheat" to get their kids into good schools, however, I don't think that part of the $7500 in taxes I pay a year should be being going towards educating children that don't rightfully belong in our school system. If it keeps happening, and the schools don't continue to perform,this area will not hold on for much longer. H-F has greatly changed since I graduated in '97. What else would draw a young family out here? I'd move to a better area & send my kids to a Catholic school with the money I saved in property taxes. The schools were the reason we moved back out here.

AK February 1, 2013 at 02:30 pm

...and one more thing Tobias, while I agree that what the kid next door to me said to my neighbor is hearsay, I am here all day every day and know from my own observations that they don't live here, even for the majority of the week.

baseball2002 February 2, 2013 at 04:41 pm

I went to high school with the deceased.... at HF... and from what I remember he was a nice guy.... I am 29 years old and have lived in Homewood for the majority of my life. In the past I have known a few Homewood police officers to be anxious for arrests and some just flat out rude and disrespectful. Maybe they were picked on as kids or something. It seems to be a pattern, one officer moves up or on to another organization, and another "thirsty" rookie takes his place. I can't imagine in this case lethal force was necessary. And why is it that after a week there is no information on whether the deceased produced a gun or any weapon at all? This is not something that happens in Homewood ( ever unless there are cases I dont know about ) and I can understand why the Cook County integrety investigation unit has been called in.

Sister Elenita February 2, 2013 at 06:13 pm

Silly Tobias-Don't you know that everyone in Flossmoor thinks Homewood is trash, and the high school should never have included both communities? Silly Tobias.....

Sister Elenita February 2, 2013 at 06:15 pm

Just finished a big ccup of coffee, now running to the mug so I can drop a Kagey....

Ima Copp February 3, 2013 at 12:32 pm

@baseball2002, lots of things u dont understand

jasperjg February 4, 2013 at 09:10 pm

I am a firm beleiver that if you have put yourself in a situation to be shot (unless it is drive-by - but even them you're hanging with the wrong crowd !) then you should EXPECT to be shot ! Illinois NEEDS to bring back the Death Penalty and it should be within ONE YEAR of conviction. Not sure about you, but I am TIRED of paying all the money to give prisoners 3 meals a day and a bed RENT FREE ! Years ago Homewood didn't need as many Officers as they have now. I WONDER WHY ?

BlackHawks Fan February 4, 2013 at 09:28 pm

jasperjg~ Your post could be the least intelligent I have ever read on Patch and that is saying a lot!!!

Nuke February 5, 2013 at 03:57 pm

No one gives A Fuck about you guys personal views on community problems. How about we pay attention to the fact that this situation is biggger than Homewood or Floosmoor. If a policeman has the guts too shoot at a human being he has the guts to be on trial. This is BS and of course if it was a white guy this probably wouldn't of happened in a neighborhood like this. The state is not stupid they know how to solve shit like this, make these anxious uptight ass policemen where cameras on them and voice recorders I betchu they will think twice about letting it ride than.

Cfoam February 12, 2013 at 06:33 pm

Still no statement from Homewood PD on this? How long is it going to take guys? This is really unacceptable as a community. I know they have to investigate but come on, the residents of this community should be informed what their local police are doing and why! Who do they work for anyway? It's not like I am against the PD, I do support them in most all cases but I do think they should have to answer in a more timely manner for their actions to the people they are employed by. WHAT IS THE DELAY? Are you going to let the community know when you feel like it or WHAT?

Gregory February 14, 2013 at 03:04 pm

What many fail to realize is this police department has a few officers with a history of shooting unarmed civilians. Look around and you will begin to see a trend. People who have never been victimized are quick to point the finger at the victim and say "he must be a criminal or something" but regardless of what the officers personal views of the victim were, he did not deserve to die if he was not armed with a weapon. If the officer "feared for his life" as they so eloquently say to justify a shooting, why hasnt this information been released to the press. This department in it's history has one african american officer who holds a Masters degree, yet he is in patrol behind a sergeant with a high school diploma. These cops no longer call minorities "niggers" they call them "sh*theads" and think that is better. These agencies in the south suburbs have no cultural sensitivity, and they do not value the lives of minorities. Shootings such as this and the countless ones settled in Chicago should bring attention to the culture of law enforcement and how police officers view African Americans. There is a cop that was on duty, drunk and he put three rounds into a citizen even though the victim was already down and guess what, he still has his job and was only assigned to the 311 center...you tell me what would have happened if a Black cop did that,,,,,,,,,,death penalty. Homewood is about to pay up and rightfully so. LOCK THAT COP UP!

Gregory February 14, 2013 at 03:40 pm

You sound like a cop, or a cop groupie. If the victim indeed had a gun, that would have been the first thing Homewood PD would have stated in the initial press release. This "complex manager" would have been interviewed and the information you are erroneously relating would have been mentioned. Bottom line is this department is filled with racism. Tell me why there is not one African American in any role of leadership within this municipality yet the population is nearly 50% minority? When the municipality discriminates against African Americans applicants, and these cops never related to African Americans when they were in high school etc, they are not hesitant to kill one...look at the stats of officer involved shootings in this state. They are over 80% Minorities.....i bet you feel they all were criminals. Well if they were all criminals, why are police departments settling for millions with the victims families. Homewood will do the same.

Dinkum February 15, 2013 at 03:44 am

These are racist comments and have no place on Patch. You offer no proof, cite no evidence, yet expect others to believe these accusations.
This loss of life is a tragedy and you have exploited it for personal venting. Find another place to rant.

Gregory February 15, 2013 at 01:47 pm

@ Dinkum, show me one sentence that isnt true about what i said. Let me disect my statement and you tell me what I fabricated: (1)They undeed have two officers for a fact that have been involved in shootings of unarmed civilians, (2) every post presented that defended the shooting referenced where his momma lived as if that has any bearing on the shooting which points to blame, (3) im sure the officer was brisked away to the hospital and advised to state that "he feared for his life", it is police protocal bro, (4) have you seen two black cops in Homewood......im waiting.....I didnt think so, (5) they indeed have a Caucasian old school SGT that has no secondary education and this is a fact, not an assertion, (6) any cop that is on this blog hiding behind another name knows for a fact that they call blacks "sh*theads" when they are patroling and amongst their own, (7) it is a fact that there is no cultural sensitivity by the arrest data and traffic stops made against minorities in this community. Although the community is nearly 60% Caucasian, and 33% African American, explain why 80% of the arrest, and traffic stops are committed against minorities.......(poaching I call it)!! Lastly point (8) I have attached a link so you can see the shooting I am referencing in which a Chicago Cop shot and killed a man while the cop was drunk on duty (http://bit.ly/UMsXjI) just to show you how invaluable Black life is to some police officers. COPLAND!!!! Be a bigot, get promoted!!

Gregory February 15, 2013 at 02:29 pm

Good question CFOAM. The answer is the less information they give out, the less information they have to defend in court. Im sure they have convened at the round table, and the powers that be have been informed that it was allegedly a bad shoot. Legal advice has been sought on behalf of the community, background of the victim will be dramatized, and they will paint this oblique picture of how afraid the officer was. If indeed it was a good shoot, that information would have been released day one and presented to the media in this fashion: "Officers arrived at the scene, subject presented what they officer thought was a weapon, the officer 'in fear of his life' ordered the subject ot drop the weapon, the subject did not drop the weapon, and the officer discharged his weapon out of ' fear for his life'. If you google Pat Camden (FOP Spokesman for CPD) he uses this statement for every shooting because it is hard for a jury to determine or measure your alleged "fear of your life". Bottom line is I am glad this exposure is being given to these police departments who condone this lack of community engagement. These officers have this "us versus them" mentality and get a kick out of making a name for themselves...by any means necessary!!! A 10 second ride from the tazer could have saved Homewood millions of dollars they are about to fork over,,,and rightfully so!!

Cfoam February 15, 2013 at 09:29 pm

Gregory - can't let some of your comments sit - I am still outraged that the HPD has not released a statement but I'm not going to accuse them of a conspiracy just yet - stupidity, YES, disrespect to the community they are hired to support, YES. Catalyst to reform the laws? YES. All police departments should be required to issue statements within 48 hours of killing someone! Is that too much to ask???
Your comments: it is a fact that there is no cultural sensitivity by the arrest data and traffic stops made against minorities in this community. Although the community is nearly 60% Caucasian, and 33% African American, explain why 80% of the arrest, and traffic stops are committed against minorities.......(poaching I call it)! > You might call it poaching, others call it good law enforcement and will say this is just proof positive that minorities commit more crimes and in fact the statistics will prove it. The statistics are higher because those are the people that are committing the crimes. Duh!

Cfoam February 15, 2013 at 09:37 pm

Sad to think that the truth is that a large majority of crimes are committed by this 30% of the population. Look back at Homewood's history of crime and I bet you will find a huge correlation between the influx of minorities and the increase in local crime. If what you mean by "cultural sensitivity" is law enforcement should let someone off that was committing a crime because it is part of their "culture"?
If a tribe of cannibals moves into your neighborhood maybe we should show them some "cultural sensitivity" by allowing them to fry you up for the next meal??? If your "culture" teaches you it's ok to steal, cheat, rob or intimidate your way to get whatever you want instead of actually working for, learning how to or even and taking care of what you have - that is not a culture most tax paying, law abiding, respectful people will support or that we as a society can or want to propagate. I totally don't support this kind of "cultural diversity". I am tired of all the excuses and special treatment these "diverse cultures" seem to think we taxpayers owe them. If a minority person can be elected President certainly you can find jobs that will pay your bills just like everyone else. As far as your link about the Chicago cop goes - it isn't relevant - this is Homewood, a nice, quiet, low crime area not the projects of Chicago - at least for a little longer.

NM February 15, 2013 at 10:49 pm

Who the hell are you, Sister Elenita? I'm an HF grad from Flossmoor and happen to love HFHS... Homewood is a great community. There are definitely trade-offs to both villages. Why don't you sign up for a Sociology class and increase your own social and intellectual status? (Praire State College is a great school in Chicago Heights, I wonder what you think of that)

Gregory February 17, 2013 at 12:48 pm

You truely dont understand my point of "cultural sensitivity" so let me educate you since you feel you understand "cultural sensitivity". When I mentioned cultural sensitivity I referenced the fact that our differences should not be labeled as negative just because you dont understand it. This is the problem with officers in your "nice, quiet, low crime area". When they see a person of color with dredlocks or saggy pants, they immediately think criminal as you may as well. When they see a car with rims, and tinted windows, the cops in your community instantly think criminal; when a person of color is driving a BMW, or a expensive luxury car, your officers think, "how did he or she afford that vehicle", instead of giving these people the benefit of the doubt, they pull these cars over and this practice generates the disproportionate statistics I referenced. These officers really get pissed when they see a Caucasian female in the car with a person of color and they "poach" and stop all those cars occupied as such. These are no excuses, these are facts CFOAM. Persons of color pay taxes out in Homewood as well. As a matter of fact, persons of color support all those businesses on Halsted and those tax dollars support those activities your communities enjoy.

Gregory February 17, 2013 at 01:00 pm

@CFOAM, this cultural sensitivity comes from diversity. When the community has no persons of color in leadership, none of the people of color that are law abiding and employed that live in Homewood have their interest presented. I did not see your response to this issue. Nearly 35% minority but NO MINORITY IN ANY LEADERSHIP!!!! Awful. The HPD is a microcosim of the pervasive ideology of the powers that be in this community. Your police department looks like a police department of the 1960's. One African American and they put him on the website so that the agency gives off the perception that it is diverse. That is a joke. Stick to the facts, this lack of cultural sensitivity killed this kid. I can assure you that if that officer was confronted by "little Timmy" when he went to that house "little Timmy" would not have been killed. Is it alright for every "white kid" traveling thru Robbins, or Harvey to be stopped because those officers think they are looking for heroin....no it is not right, but this is how persons of color feel traveling thru your community to support businesses or visit our loved ones.

Dinkum February 17, 2013 at 01:17 pm

Here's the point you don't get G. You're slanted view of all cops (perhaps most "Whites" and how they label minorities) lacks cultural sensitivity and is racist. So you are not really any different than those you accuse (at least in terms of their life views).
But back to the original subject here. A human being has lost his life and HDP is accountable for it. Unlike you, I'll wait for the FACTS and EVIDENCE around this unfortunate incident before I pass judgement.

baseball2002 February 17, 2013 at 03:37 pm

Cmon Dinkum.... Lets not be naive. Gregory has many valid points that deserve recognizing and are far from racist. I am a white male, I have lived in Homewood for the majority of my life and have my ear to the street. The HPD is definitely guilty of what Gregory calls "poaching"... They are an almost all white organization and I think they are in general way too overzealous... Thats not to say this is only directed at black people... They have been known to make it their mission to mess with plenty of white people labeled "criminals". However, Im sure had one of these white criminals been in the shoes of Mr. Culpepper that early morning, I dont think we'd be having this conversation. If the HPD made it a point to pull over and target the white patrons of our local bars that drive home wasted on a regular basis, people would be upset and you would again hear about "poaching". But that just doesn't happen. Its unfortunate any way you look at it. I too cannot wait to hear these FACTS and EVIDENCE... However, I have a bad feeling they will be biased and like I have said before, I STRONGLY doubt lethal force was necessary in this case!!!! As a citiczen of Homewood, I worry about the HPD and future racial tension in general... Its just a shame, period.

Gregory February 17, 2013 at 04:54 pm

@bASEBALL2002, excellent point and the reason these patrons are not stopped leaving those local taverns are because the cops are usually the ones drinking at these establishments. The local trustees, and administrators also leave these taverns wasted and have no fear of being stopped because when the cops run their plates they say, "aw, thats trustee such and such" and then they turn off Dixie and pull over the first car that is driven by a black or hispanic. This agency does not feel there is no racial profiling because this is business as usual for them. It may be unintentional discrimination by the very fact that it has been accepted for so many years but now that tax payers are about to pay up, I can guarantee that folks will start analyzing their use of force policies and seek consultants on how to solve this hidden issue. Racism is a serious problem especially when those that practice it has the authority as law enforcement. Chicago PD has paid out 38 million this year already for situations like this and if the tax payers of Homewood dont want their taxes to go up because of numerous lawsuits, they better attend the next board meeting and ask some questions!!!

Gregory February 17, 2013 at 05:07 pm

Whats the difference between me waiting for the facts and believing HPD is guilty and you waiting for the facts and thinking HPD is innocent in this situation? The difference is when a municipality as such is involved in a potential civil lawsuit, they will go out of their way to tell the constituents of their community via the media what happened. Facts such as "a weapon being displayed, or suspect lunging for officers weapon" would be presented especially since someone lost their life. The very fact that there are no facts disputing my assertion proves my point. I have a complete understanding of public policy and how governments deal with civil liability and this situation will play out and be settled. I just hope that the officer involved is a Christian and seeks forgiveness and that the family holds no bitterness.But they must be compensated and this officer must be humbled, whatever that takes!!!

Dinkum February 18, 2013 at 08:58 pm

So typical of people like you to believe I was only referring to the police in this matter. I believe the person who lost his life (and his family) deserves full respect and consideration here.

Dinkum February 18, 2013 at 09:10 pm

Then you know little of the definition of racism or discrimination so it's you who are naive. Look it up.
Also note I'm not using the tragic death of someone as a forum to vent about abuses or racism. We have all experienced this. So, as I have said many times on this page, I'll reserve judgement. This ends my remarks on commentary on this subject.

baseball2002 February 19, 2013 at 04:42 pm

@Dinkum... I appologize for calling you naive. I suppose I was referring to Gregory's comments as not being racist in a general sense. I simply wanted to point out that some his points were quite valid. I am not exploiting the death of Mr. Culpepper to vent about abuses either. You commented, so did I, just opinions. The bottom line is that this whole situation is TRAGIC! The HPD, I believe, in times past and im guessing in this situation, are going about their service with disregard to ethics and racial sensitivity. With that, I will leave it alone.

Cfoam February 19, 2013 at 11:12 pm

Sunday will mark 1 month since this police shooting and the citizens of Homewood still have no details about what happened in their community by the police force their taxes pay for. Why is that? I know dealing with the state can take a long time but I'd venture to guess if Mr Cullpepper had shot the officer at his door we would have heard about it and all the details the same day. I'm trying not to jump to conclusions but the more time this goes unanswered the more I question what is REALLY happening and how much it will end up costing Homewood taxpayers. No disrespect to the family but If this officer is trigger-happy is he still working shifts? If he saved numerous people from a crazed gunman maybe we need to have a parade to honor him??? WHO REALLY KNOWS?
I think people deserve to know the details!!!! Where is the village president? the community needs a statement!!!

Gregory February 20, 2013 at 01:48 am

@CFOAM, this agency is entering territory that it's leadership never experienced. In previous shootings, the officer shot a fleeing felon in the face and because the victim was robbing a currency exchange, it was deemed a justifiable shooting and this officer was paraded and rightfully so. The media was all over the case and Homewood offered immediae responses because it made them look like a department that "served and protected". This case is drastically different because unlike the currency exchange robbery, this offender that was recently killed must not have posed a threat as the currency exchange situation or this information would have been mentioned day one. If the Village President or Chief of Police offers a response to the questions presented, they open themselves up to rebuttal questions that they really do not want to answer. I'm sure he is placed on desk duty or something. Bottom line is this agency and surrounding agencies are being held to a higher standard because they can no longer conduct "business as usual" . This lawsuit hopefully will cause this municipality and other adjacentcommunities to self-analyze itself and see how future potential shootings and racial profiling can be prevented. It seems the only way these type of situations really change is when these towns have to fork over millions!! They will continue to be sued until they realize that diverse communities can not be policed by a predominantly Caucasian led police departments.