On December 15, 2012, Jamaal Moore Sr., a 23-year-old unarmed Black man, was fatally shot by Chicago police officers following a vehicular pursuit in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Moore was a passenger in a silver Chevrolet Trailblazer suspected of involvement in a robbery. After the vehicle crashed near 55th and Ashland, Moore attempted to flee on foot. During the pursuit, Officer Chris Hackett struck Moore with a police SUV, dragging him several feet.
As Moore tried to crawl out from under the vehicle, Officer Ruth Castelli shot him twice in the back. No weapon was found on Moore; he was later pronounced dead at St. Bernard Hospital.
The incident sparked immediate outrage in the community, leading to protests and confrontations with police. Witnesses reported that officers at the scene used racial slurs and taunted Moore's family members, who had arrived seeking information. Moore's mother, Gwendolyn Moore, and sister, Jaceta Smith, filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Chicago and the officers involved, alleging excessive force, wrongful death, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. In 2014, the city agreed to a $1.25 million settlement with Moore's family, without admitting wrongdoing.
Despite the settlement, the Independent Police Review Authority initially ruled the shooting justified. However, in 2016, following the release of dashcam footage and renewed public scrutiny, IPRA announced it would reopen the investigation into Moore's death. As of the latest available information, Officer Castelli remained on active duty, and no criminal charges had been filed against any officers involved in the incident.
