Slain Chicago police officer was ‘living the American dream,' prosecutors say as trial opens
Later that afternoon, Vásquez Lasso began his final shift, prosecutors said, during which he was shot and killed while responding to a domestic call on March 1, 2023.
'Andres Vásquez Lasso was living the American dream,' said Assistant State's Attorney Katie Siefert. 'Andres cared so much for the community he patrolled, he moved into the 8th District and bought his home there.'
Attorneys on Tuesday delivered opening statements to the jury at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in front of a courtroom packed with police officers and family members. The jury was sworn in by Judge John Lyke Jr. after being empaneled on Monday.
Steven Montano, 21, is charged with murder and other felonies in the attack, accused of fatally shooting the 32-year-old officer as children cowered under a slide at a nearby park.
Montano's defense attorneys asked jurors to keep an open mind, telling them that Montano was only 18 at the time, in a relationship with a 37-year-old woman. They argued that the case does not equate to first degree murder, saying Montano had a 'most unfortunate reaction' to a stressful situation.
'Cars were barreling down on him,' said Assistant Public Defender Hussain Khan. 'Officers were running behind him.'
Remembered by friends and family as a loyal friend and capable police officer, Vásquez Lasso, was responding to the call when he was shot and killed in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue on the city's Southwest Side.
He immigrated to the United States from Colombia when he was 18 years old and later enrolled in college and joined the Chicago Police Department.
The domestic incident began, according to prosecutors, when Montano threatened to get his gun during an argument with his 37-year-old girlfriend.
She left the residence through a side door and called 911.
Montano had also grabbed her phone and tried to stop her from calling for help, prosecutors alleged.
As police arrived, Montano jumped out of a window, prosecutors said, and was chased by Vásquez Lasso, who had arrived on scene.
As the chase neared a playground, Montano turned toward the officer, prosecutors said, and both fired weapons. Vásquez Lasso hit Montano in the mouth area, and Montano shot the officer in the head, arm and leg as children and others took cover.
The case went before the jury as the Chicago Police Department is still mourning the fatal shooting of another one of their own, Officer Krystal Rivera, who was killed by a fellow police officer on June 5, the first CPD officer to die of friendly fire in nearly 40 years.
Vásquez Lasso was one of two police officers shot to death in 2023 in attacks considered to be on-duty. About two months after he was killed, Chicago police Officer Aréanah Preston was slain as she returned to her Avalon Park home from a late-night shift.
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First to ABC: High-ranking Democrats press Trump administration on US deal with El Salvador to detain migrants
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