Natalia Chi
An 18-year-old boy charged with the shooting death of Chicago police officer Andres Vazquez Lasso is due to appear in court on Wednesday, according to court records.
Stephen Montano could be appearing in court for the first time after being hospitalized in critical condition due to previous proceedings.
Earlier this month, a judge ordered Montano to be held without bail.
According to authorities, Montano, who lives on the 2500 block of South Lawndale Avenue, has been charged with first-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon without a FOID card, and firing a firearm near a school building. I was.
He also faces two misdemeanor charges of simple assault and interfering with a domestic violence report, respectively, officials said.
An 18-year-old boy was taken into custody shortly after 32-year-old Vasquez-Lasso was shot dead.
A police officer was shot several times on March 1 in the Gage Park neighborhood on the southwest side of the city.
The assistant public defender defending Montano at a recent hearing said he did not have the opportunity to speak with his client and could not provide information about him.
However, prosecutors said Montano was being chased when he suddenly turned and pointed a gun at Vazquez Lasso. But when the officer approached him, Montano “looked over his shoulder” and “quickly turned to him.” [Vásquez Lasso] while racking the slide with his pistol. “
At that point both the officer and the suspect opened fire.
“At point blank range, shots were exchanged,” said Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said. Officers were hit multiple times in the head and leg, but responded by hitting Montano in the head, officials said.
Prosecutors said in court on Friday that Montano was uncooperative after the shooting and was tased before being taken into custody.
According to NBC 5’s Charlie Wojciechowski, Steven Montano, the 18-year-old man who allegedly shot and killed a Chicago police officer on duty, was not issued a bond in court on Friday and remained hospitalized in critical condition.
The shooting took place near the school playground, forcing students to evacuate.
“Civilians, including several children, were on the playground and hiding under the slide at the time of the shooting,” a bonded court attorney said.
Officials say an investigation is ongoing and body camera footage from responding officers is currently being reviewed.
Montano, who lives in the city’s Little Village neighborhood, had previously been charged with a misdemeanor in connection with an incident in which he fled on foot from a car stopped by Chicago police in July 2022, officials confirmed.
Cook County Attorney Kim Fox’s office said the suspect was released without bail because he had no criminal record.
“The defendant, who had no criminal record, was given an I-bond after being charged,” the office said. He was not charged with a felony.”
Fox’s office said the suspect was charged with a misdemeanor of fleeing the vehicle.driver charged On the felony count of illegal gun possession.
