Man Acquitted of Attempted Murder After Being Shot by Chicago Police Officer
A dramatic incident unfolded at a Brighton Park bar last year when a man was shot in the head by a Chicago police officer. The man in question, Fernando Guzman, 38, has recently been acquitted of the most serious charges brought against him.
After a jury trial before Judge Ursula Walowski, Guzman was found not guilty of attempted murder and discharging a firearm toward a peace officer. However, he was convicted on two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
The events leading up to the shooting took place around 12:20 a.m. on October 12, 2024, when officers responded to a call regarding a person with a gun at a bar on South Kedzie Avenue. Witnesses reported that a man in a construction vest had brandished a gun in the establishment.
Upon encountering Guzman, who matched the description provided by witnesses, officers questioned him about being armed. Guzman allegedly displayed a handgun, prompting one officer to attempt to disarm him.
According to reports, Guzman then discharged his weapon, leading to an officer firing back and striking him in the head. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability later suggested that Guzman may not have intentionally fired the weapon.
Prosecutors indicated that security cameras inside the bar and officers’ body-worn cameras captured the incident, although the footage has not been made public due to a court order.
Guzman has been held in Cook County Jail since the night of the shooting. A hearing is scheduled for December 15 to address post-trial motions and determine sentencing for the remaining weapon convictions.
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