Man Shot By Police After Thieves Fled His Store Testifies

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Beth Cortez-Neavel / flickr
court_gavel
Beth Cortez-Neavel / flickr

Man Shot By Police After Thieves Fled His Store Testifies

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CHICAGO (AP) — A man who survived after being shot multiple times by Chicago police officers testified he didn’t see or hear officers standing nearby as he bent over to pick up a gun dropped by a robber of his beauty supply business.

Testifying Tuesday in his federal lawsuit seeking damages from Chicago police for his shooting, Bassil Abdelal said as he stood up he was shot “right away.”

Three Chicago police officers opened fire on Abdelal. Their attorney insists he pointed a large chrome handgun squarely at the officers as he walked out of his store after the March 14, 2012, robbery.

Abdelal said he never heard anyone yell “police” or tell him to drop the gun. He said he didn’t notice squad cars, police sirens or lights outside his store.