Sircie Varnado, a 46-year-old African American woman, was tragically shot and killed on June 12, 2019, inside a Walgreens store in Chicago, Illinois. The incident occurred when a Walgreens night manager suspected Varnado of shoplifting and called Louis Hicks Jr., a 33-year-old man who falsely identified himself as a Chicago police officer. Hicks confronted Varnado, leading to a physical altercation during which he shot her in the face, resulting in her death.
The Cook County medical examiner confirmed that Varnado died from a gunshot wound to the face.
Following the incident, Louis Hicks Jr. was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, impersonating an officer, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Hicks, who had a history of impersonating law enforcement officers, was held without bond. During the confrontation, Hicks tackled Varnado to the ground and shot her after she allegedly called him a derogatory name. Hicks then fled the scene but later turned himself in to the police.
The aftermath of Varnado's death led to significant legal actions. Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Walgreens, the night manager, and Hicks. The lawsuit claimed that the night manager was negligent in calling Hicks instead of the police and that Hicks committed assault and battery by unlawfully restraining Varnado. The lawsuit sought more than $50,000 in damages for Varnado's wrongful death. Walgreens faced criticism for the actions of its employees and the handling of the situation, with legal experts suggesting that the company could be held liable for the incident.
The tragic death of Sircie Varnado highlighted issues related to the use of force, the responsibilities of retail employees, and the consequences of impersonating law enforcement officers. The case drew attention to the need for proper training and protocols for handling suspected shoplifting incidents to prevent such tragedies in the future.
