Mom Hopeful Johnson Will Release Probe of Her Son's Death

Clip: 6/6/2023 | 2m 29sVideo has Closed Captions

Courtney Copeland died while handcuffed after asking police for help after being shot.

Aired 06/06/2023 | Rating NR

Mom Hopeful Johnson Will Release Probe of Her Son's Death

Clip: 6/6/2023 | 2m 29sVideo has Closed Captions

Courtney Copeland died while handcuffed after asking police for help after being shot.

Courtney Copeland died while handcuffed after asking police officers for help after being shot. More than seven years after his death, no one has been charged with his murder.

Aired 06/06/2023 | Rating NR

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>>> A GRIEVING MOTHER HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS ABOUT THE KILLING OF HER 22-YEAR-OLD SON.

NOW, YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH, SHE'S HOPEFUL SHE'LL FINALLY GET THEM.

WTTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER CHERONE HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY OF SHAPEARL WELLS AND HER SON, COURTNEY COPELAND.

AND HEATHER JOINED US NOW WITH THE LATEST.

SO FIRST, REMIND US WHO COURTNEY COPELAND IS, AND WHAT WE DO AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT HIS DEATH FROM 2016.

>> SO COURTNEY COPELAND WAS DRIVING ON THE FAR NORTHWEST SIDE OF CHICAGO WHEN HE WAS SHOT IN THE BACK ON MARCH 4th, 2016.

WE MANAGED TO DRIVE HIMSELF TO THE 25th POLICE DISTRICT OUTSIDE GRANDIN CENTRAL AVENUE'S, WHERE HE COLLAPSED.

IT TOOK 13 MINUTES FOR AN AMBULANCE TO TAKE HIM TO A HOSPITAL, AND WHEN HE ARRIVED, HE WAS HANDCUFFED.

NOT ONLY DOES SHAPEARL WELLS NOT KNOW WHO SHOT HER SON, SHE DOES NOT KNOW WHY HE WAS HANDCUFFED AND WHY IT TOOK SO LONG FOR HIM TO GET TO A HOSPITAL.

>> AND YOU REPORT THAT HE DIED IN THE AMBULANCE ALONG THE WAY.

>> CORRECT.

>> HIS MOTHER, TRENT 27 WELLS, SHE'S BEEN SEEKING ANSWERS ABOUT HER SONS DEATH, BUT SHE'S COME UP SHORT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ROADBLOCKS SHE'S BEEN RUNNING INTO?

>> FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE, SHE STARTED A PODCAST CALLED SOMEBODY WITH THE INVISIBLE INCIDENT, AND SHE PARTED WITH JOURNALIST JAMIE KALVEN, WHICH PROMPTED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO LAUNCH A PROBE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HER SON.

THAT PROBE RECOMMENDED DISCIPLINE FOR TWO POLICE OFFICERS BASED ON THEIR HANDLING OF THE PROBE, BUT SHE HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN HER ATTEMPTS TO GET THAT FULL REPORT.

HER REQUEST WAS DENIED BY FORMER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

>> ASSOCIATES FEELING MORE HOPEFUL HE STATES THAT SHE WILL FINALLY GET SOME OF THE ANSWERS.

WHY THE CHANGE?

>> THE ELECTION OF MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON.

DURING THE CAMPAIGN, HE COMMITTED TO RELEASING THESE KIND OF REPORTS QUICKLY TO HELP CHICAGOANS HOLD THEIR ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE .

NOW, THE DECISION ON WHETHER TO RELEASE THIS REPORT AND OTHERS LIKE IT, INCLUDING THE INTERNET YOUNG ONE, WILL BE UP TO THE NEXT CORPORATION COUNSEL, THE CITY'S TOP LAWYER.

JOHNSON HAS PICKED MARY RICHARDSON-LOWRY TO FILL THAT SPOT, SO AFTER SHE IS PRESUMABLY CONFIRMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, SHE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO RELEASE THIS REPORT AND OTHERS LIKE IT.

I SHOULD SAY I REACHED OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE , AND THEY