Chicago Cop Who Shot At Car 16 Times Found Guilty Of Excessive Force

Source: Chicago Reader

Marco Proano could face up to 20 years in prison.

In a report from ABC News, jurors convicted the Chicago police officer Monday of civil rights violations for firing 16 shots into a car of teenagers in 2013, wounding two. The 42-year-old was charged with two counts of depriving civil rights by using unreasonable force and was found guilty on both counts.

During closing arguments, a prosecutor compared Proano to a cowboy, explaining how the cop almost immediately began firing at the vehicle upon exiting his patrol car. Proano claimed that he opened fire to protect one of the teens who was hanging out of the car, but the prosecutor immediately dismissed it.

"He pulled his gun out, held it to one side and aimed it at those kids to send a message and to show who was in charge," Erika Csicsila said. "You don't shoot at someone to save their life."

READ: Chicago Cop Who Killed Laquan McDonald Faces 16 New Charges

The incident took place back on December 22, 2013, when Proano fired at the car of teens as it backed up after being stopped for speeding. One teen was wounded in the hip and heel, and the other teen in the shoulder. Defense lawyer Daniel Herbert, who represented Proano, also represents Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago police officer who shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times as the black teenager appeared to walk from police holding a folded knife. Dyke is awaiting trial in state court for McDonald's murder.

Source: abcnews.go.com