Cop Found Not Guilty in Fatal 2012 Shooting of Rekia Boyd
There will be no justice for Rekia Boyd, the 22-year-old unarmed Chicago woman who was fatally shot by an off-duty cop in 2012.
On Monday, Judge Dennis Porter found Detective Dante Servin not guilty. Servin faced charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless discharge of a firearm, and reckless conduct.
Despite Porter’s belief that Servin unloaded his firearm—which he referred to as “an intentional act”—he said prosecutors failed to prove that Servin acted with reckless intent, which must be proven when charging an individual with manslaughter. “The evidence does not support the charges on which the defendant is being tried,” the judge said.
Boyd was fatally shot on March 21, 2012 when Servin, who was off-duty at the time, approached Boyd and a group of friends near Douglas Park for being rowdy. Servin said he saw Antonio Cross reach for a gun during the conflict, and only fired because he felt his life was in danger. One of the bullets fatally struck Boyd. Police never found a weapon on Cross.
Before handing down Monday’s verdict, Judge Porter noted: “This is not a place for emotion. This is a place for reasoned decisions.”
But it was not enough to alleviate the pain and anger Boyd’s family felt after hearing his decision.
“You want me to be quiet?” Boyd’s brother yelled, before being dragged out of the Cook County courtroom. “This motherfucker killed my sister.”
