Charles Smith, a 29-year-old African American male, was fatally shot by Chicago police on January 31, 2016, during a home invasion in the Englewood neighborhood on the city's South Side. The incident occurred around 4:40 a.m. when Smith and his alleged accomplice, Breanna Patterson, 20, broke into a home in the 7300 block of South Paulina. Responding to calls of a home invasion, Englewood District officers were met by an armed offender who opened fire.
Police returned fire, resulting in Smith's death. Smith was pronounced dead inside the house, and a weapon was recovered at the scene. No officers were injured during the incident.
Breanna Patterson, also African American, was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and home invasion with discharge of a firearm. She was held on a $1 million bond and was scheduled to appear in court on February 22, 2016. The Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates all police-involved shootings, conducted an investigation into the incident. Friends of Smith, who was a local rapper known as FiF Money, claimed he was not a violent person and believed he was visiting someone in the neighborhood when the shooting occurred.
The case drew significant attention due to the involvement of police and the circumstances surrounding the home invasion. The house where the incident took place was notably the boyhood home of Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose. The investigation by the Independent Police Review Authority aimed to determine the appropriateness of the officers' use of force during the encounter. The outcome of the investigation and any subsequent legal actions were closely monitored by the community and local media.
