Marquise Sampson, a 19-year-old African American male, died on July 8, 2012, in Chicago, IL. His death occurred during a police encounter following an armed robbery at a King Gyros restaurant. Sampson, along with his accomplice Tevin Louis, also 19, allegedly robbed two employees at gunpoint, taking money, a cell phone, and cigarettes. Both suspects fled the scene, with Sampson running through the Gresham district where he was spotted by police officers.
During the pursuit, officers
reported that Sampson was holding his side while running and ignored commands to stop. He then allegedly pulled a gun and pointed it at one of the officers, prompting the officer to shoot him twice. Sampson was pronounced dead at the scene, and the coroner ruled his death a homicide.
Tevin Louis was arrested shortly after the incident when he attempted to cross the police line at the scene. He was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, and disorderly conduct. Despite not firing the shots that killed Sampson, Louis was held responsible for his death under the felony murder rule, which allows for a murder charge if a death occurs during the commission of a felony.
In court, prosecutors presented evidence including surveillance footage from the restaurant and testimonies from the robbery victims. Louis was found guilty and sentenced to a total of 32 years in prison—20 years for the murder charge and 12 years for the armed robbery. This case highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding the felony murder rule, especially in situations where the actual killing was carried out by law enforcement.
