Prosecutor: Chicago mayor’s criticism of shooting case’s handling ‘inappropriate’

Cooke County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx (D) shot back at Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) on Tuesday after Lightfoot blasted the prosecutor for not pursuing charges in a fatal home shooting last week.

A shooting took place at a home in Chicago’s West Side last week when four people allegedly exited from a car and shot into the home, killing one person.

During a press conference earlier this week, Lightfoot criticized Foxx’s decision to not bring charges forward.

“It’s complicated, for sure. But we really urge the State’s Attorney herself to get personally involved, look at the evidence, and I believe that there are charges that can be brought at a minimum against the individuals who initiated the gunfire,” Lightfoot said.

During a news conference later on Tuesday, Foxx shot back at Lightfoot’s claims that there was enough evidence saying that they “simply weren’t true,” the Chicago Tribune reported. She said she was “mortified” by Lightfoot’s remarks and called them “inappropriate” and “wrong.”

“I was quite honestly mortified by what happened yesterday, particularly because the mayor, as a former prosecutor, knows that what she did yesterday was inappropriate,” said Foxx.

“We will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to ensure that the necessary work is done so that we may bring charges and ultimately secure a conviction for those that engage in the violence that we have seen across this city,” she added according to the Tribune. “That is our mission. It is not to try cases in the media nor to play politics on the deaths of children, and veterans, and people in our community.”

Foxx said she believed the way to address increasing crime rates was for officials to work together and not “lie about evidence.”

“What I’ve seen is a need for a quick answer,” said Foxx. “ ‘Oh, it’s the state’s attorney office. Oh, it’s the police.’ It’s not. And I get it.”

However, the Tribune noted that Lightfoot did not budge from her criticisms of Foxx.

“Whatever the other evidence is that needs to be gathered, the Police Department is going to be Johnny on the spot and make sure we get it,” the Chicago mayor said, “But this is to me a very compelling case.”

Lightfoot said she would be meeting with Foxx soon and that the city would work with Foxx’s office to bring charges.