A widow is suing her ex-husband after he shot and killed her husband right before her eyes. “It defies the notion of commonsense and equal justice where a family man can get shot 24 times in front of his own home, in front of his wife and child, and
A widow is suing her ex-husband after he shot and killed her husband right before her eyes.
“It defies the notion of common sense and equal justice where a family man can get shot 24 times in front of his own home, in front of his wife and child, and no determination of excessive force or criminal activity has been found,” said Rashsaan Gordon, an attorney who filed the suit Tuesday on behalf of the widow, Nicole McKinney.
According to the lawsuit, on Feb. 17, Christopher Lloyd, a part-time Robbins police officer, drove to McKinney’s South Side home while off-duty and got into an argument with McKinney’s husband Cornell McKinney, 35, outside their home. Once the arguing continued, Lloyd pulled out his gun and repeatedly shot McKinney.
Cornell McKinney’s 9-year-old daughter (from a previous relationship) witnessed her father die, the suit states. The suit is seeking unspecified damages. Gordon said Lloyd came to the home after his 10-year-old-daughter (whom he had with Nicole) called to tell him that Cornell had spanked her. Lloyd also has a 13-year-old daughter with Nicole. Gordon added that Cornell spanked the girl after she disobeyed him.
“Kids will be kids. The daughter kept turning off a video game that Cornell’s son was playing, making him cry,” Gordon said.
“So after telling the girl to stop twice, he spanked her, and the girl started crying and went to her room to call her dad.”
The couple had been married six months when Cornell was killed. They have 6-month-old twins. Robbins Police Chief Johnny Holmes said Lloyd has been placed on administrative (unpaid) leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
“He has been with us a little less than a year and will remain on leave until the case is resolved,” Holmes said. “I have not been briefed by the Chicago Police Department as to the status of their investigation so there’s not much I can tell you right now.”
Holmes added that he has not seen a copy of the suit and that Robbins has 35 officers.
“Mr. McKinney’s family has been informed that the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is still investigating this matter after more than four months after the incident passed,” Gordon added.
The suit alleges that Lloyd told investigators that he shot McKinney four times, but Gordon disputes that claim and said the medical examiner’s report stated McKinney was shot 24 times. The medical examiner’s report also stated three weapons were recovered at the scene, and Lloyd was not shot.
______
Copyright 2008 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
About Post Author
