Lazane Clark, a 55-year-old African American man, died on February 10, 2016, in Chicago, IL, after being shot in the chest during an altercation. The incident occurred on February 4, 2016, around 11 AM, in the Lakeview neighborhood at the intersection of Halsted and Oakdale. Clark was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries six days later.
The shooter, a 67-year-old man from North Riverside, had a concealed carry license.
He was taken into custody for questioning but was released without charges. Initially, the shooter was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, but the charges were later dropped, and he was released. The police department apologized for the "issues" related to the case.
Clark had a history of legal troubles. Two years prior to his death, he was charged with aggravated intimidation by a gang member after threatening to have an executive at the Reproductive Genetics Institute killed over a dispute involving damage to his car. Clark pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years of intensive probation and anger management courses. Additionally, in 2001, Clark was involved in a solicitation of murder for hire scheme, where he was allegedly offered $2,000 to commit the crime. He was arrested on an unrelated narcotics charge and subsequently informed the police about the murder plan.
Despite the violent nature of Clark's death, no further arrests or charges were made against the shooter, and the case did not proceed to trial. The incident highlights the complexities and challenges in cases involving self-defense claims and concealed carry laws.
