Lawsuit filed in fatal police shooting at Highland Park Hospital

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- The chaos after a fatal shooting at suburban hospital was captured by surveillance cameras, and now the grieving mother of the victim shot by police officers has filed a lawsuit in connection with his death.

Christopher Anderson, 27, was shot inside the emergency room at Highland Park Hospital in November. The mother of the Waukegan man still worries about her granddaughter.

"She still cries, she still gets to herself, but you know, every day is getting a little easier and easier," said Venus Anderson, mother.

Christopher Anderson was killed after being shot several times by Highland Park police officers. The attorney representing Anderson's family filed a lawsuit against the officers and the City of Highland Park alleging police used excessive force and violated Anderson's civil rights.

"The officers were ordering him to put the gun down. He was doing that, and while he was doing that, while they ordered him to put the gun down, they shot him and they shot him dead," said Blake Horowitz, attorney.

Surveillance video from the hospital shows several people quickly leave a treatment bay and an officer drawing a weapon.

Video from a police camera captures what's believed to be a police officer just outside the room say, "I hope you're not getting out," before some shots were fired.

Initially, Highland Park Police said Anderson was aggressive and after repeated attempts to put down his gun, officers fired.

"Had they gave him the time he needed to put the gun down, we could have avoided all this," Venus Anderson said.

On Monday, Anderson's family and attorney say Anderson had a weapon in his waistband when he and his daughter came into the hospital after a car accident. They say records show Anderson was putting the gun down when he was fired upon, and some of the bullets hit him in the back.

"Why would the bullets be in his back if there's an officer behind him and then they're trying to ask him to remove the gun from his person, and then while he's doing that, without pointing it at that officer, who's behind him, he's shot," Horowitz said.

"Nine bullets, come on, I mean. Yes, they weren't trying to disarm him, they was trying to brutally murder my son," Venus Anderson said.

Steven Elrod, Corporation Counsel for the City of Highland Park says, "Based on all of the known facts, we know of no conceivable basis for liability."

He also said that Lake County conducted an independent investigation and the officers were found to be acting appropriately, but would not comment on specifics of the lawsuit.