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A Chicago police officer shot and killed two people, including one who was fired on<span style="color: Red;">*</span>accidentally,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>while responding to a domestic dispute call early Saturday, authorities said.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office identified the two killed as<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Bettie R. Jones, 55, and Quintonio Legrier, 19. Both<span style="color: Red;">*</span>died at nearby hospitals shortly after the incident, police said. The incident comes as the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>troubled city is already embroiled in a federal civil rights investigation after a 2014 officer-involved shooting.
"(Jones) was accidentally struck and tragically killed," Chicago Police said in a statement late Saturday.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"The department extends it's deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends."
Police said an officer was responding to a "domestic dispute" around 4:30 a.m. Saturday<span style="color: Red;">*</span>when a person became combative "resulting in the discharging of the officer's handgun, fatally wounding two individuals."<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Both of those killed were black. Police did not disclose the officer's name or race.
The shooting is under investigation and is under review by Independent Police Review Authority, which conducts a review of all police-involved shootings in the city. Police<span style="color: Red;">*</span>declined to offer further details about the incident.
USA TODAY
New audio shows Chicago police asked for taser in Laquan McDonald shooting
The city has been immersed in<span style="color: Red;">*</span>racial tensions since the court-ordered release in November of a police dashboard video showing white police officer Jason Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald<span style="color: Red;">*</span>—<span style="color: Red;">*</span>who was<span style="color: Red;">*</span>black<span style="color: Red;">*</span>—<span style="color: Red;">*</span>16 times<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in October<span style="color: Red;">*</span>2014.
Last week, the Justice Department launched a civil rights investigation of the Chicago Police Department in connection with that shooting and how the investigation of it was handled. Van Dyke has been charged with murder.
Legrier's mother<span style="color: Red;">*</span>told WLS-TV that her son<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was "having a mental situation."<span style="color: Red;">*</span>She said he could get loud, but not violent. The Associated Press reported Legrier was studying engineering at Northern Illinois University.
Melvin Jones, brother of Bettie, told the Chicago Tribune<span style="color: Red;">*</span>she was the mother of four daughters and a son ranging in age from 19 to 38, including twins, according to Associated Press. Melvin Jones said that a dozen family members celebrated Christmas in his sister's home Friday and that she was Legrier's<span style="color: Red;">*</span>neighbor.
Both families said that Jones had been asked by Legrier family member to keep an eye out for the arrival of police, who had been called to help with Legrier.
Chicago Police officers were also involved in another shooting on Saturday. Police responded to what was described as "assault in progress" around 1:30 p.m. on the city's South Side. Officers who arrived on the scene observed a man with a gun who they confronted, according to a police department statement.
"During that encounter, an officer discharged his service weapon striking the offender. Afterward, the offender was<span style="color: Red;">*</span>transported to an area hospital where he is currently in surgery," the department said in a statement.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"No officers sustained injuries<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and the gun was recovered on scene. "
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who has faced calls for his resignation during near daily protests in the city since the release of the McDonald video last month, said that the Cook County State's Attorney's Office will also review the incident in the coming days.
"Anytime an officer uses force the public deserves answers, and regardless of the circumstances we all grieve anytime there is a loss of life in our city," Emanuel said in a statement.
Police said that officers involved in the shooting incidents were placed on administrative duties.
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