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The police officer who shot and killed 26-year-old security guard Jemel Roberson around 4 a.m. on Sunday, November 11, has still not been identified as of Thursday, November 15.
The officer — who has been confirmed to be a white male — worked for the Midlothian police department for seven years and is a member of the South Suburban Emergency Response Team, officials said.
On Monday, a federal lawsuit was filed against the Midlothian police officer, alleging that responding officer used excessive force when he shot Roberson. In addition to the police department, the village of Midlothian was also named in the suit.
According to reports, Roberson, who was working security at the Manny’s Blue Room Bar in Robbins, Illinois, was shot and killed by a Midlothian police officer who was responding to a shooting that occurred inside of the bar earlier in the night.
Witnesses say that after a man began open firing inside of the bar, Roberson returned fire before apprehending the suspect and restraining him until police arrived. When police arrived, they shot Roberson, who was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
“Everybody was screaming out, ‘Security!’ He was a security guard. And they still did their job, and saw a black man with a gun, and basically killed him,” said Adam Harris, who witnessed the shooting.
At this time, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the original shooting inside the bar, while the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force is investigating the shooting and killing of Roberson.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover Roberson’s funeral costs. At the time of this writing, over $4000 have been raised.
The GoFundMe page created for Roberson’s funeral says that he “was a young man who was greatly loved by all who knew him.”
