Justus Howell, a 17-year-old African American male, was fatally shot by a Zion, Illinois police officer on April 4, 2015. The incident occurred during a foot chase after Howell allegedly stole a handgun. According to authorities, Howell was shot twice in the back by Officer Eric Hill. One of the bullets pierced Howell's heart, spleen, and liver, while the other struck his right shoulder. The shooting was captured on surveillance video, and investigators claimed that the officer feared for his safety when Howell turned slightly toward him.
The Lake County Coroner, Thomas Rudd, ruled Howell's death a homicide, indicating the killing of a human being by another human being. However, this ruling did not automatically lead to criminal charges. The Lake County State's Attorney, Michael Nerheim, stated that the determination of whether the homicide was justifiable hinged on a complete evaluation of the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. An independent investigation concluded that the officer's use of deadly force was justified, and no criminal charges were filed against Officer Hill.
Howell's family, led by his mother LaToya Howell, has been vocal in their pursuit of justice, arguing that Justus was not a threat and was merely exercising his right to run in the face of fear. They filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Officer Hill and the city of Zion in 2016, but a jury rejected the lawsuit. The family has continued to call for the case to be reopened, especially in light of national attention on police misconduct.
The case has sparked significant controversy and debate, with supporters of the Howell family arguing that the shooting was an unjustified use of lethal force against an unarmed black teenager. Despite the official findings, the family and their supporters maintain that Howell's death was an execution rather than a justified act of self-defense by the police.
