Raymond Lopez (15) convened a stakeholders meeting at the West Englewood Library on Tuesday to address the fatal shooting by police of unarmed 19 year-old Kajuan Raye in the 15th Ward’s West Englewood community last week. Nearly two dozen organizations, churches, and community leaders were in attendance along with Ald. Lopez, 7th District Chicago Police Department Commander Kenneth Johnson and other representatives of the CPD. “The purpose of this meeting is to inform the community about this tragic situation with as many facts as possible,” said Ald. Lopez. “We want our community leaders to have access to as much information as possible so that when their respective congregations or other constituencies have questions or concerns, they can answer them honestly and confidently.”

On November 23rd, Raye was shot while running away from a 7th District sergeant responding to a report of a battery in progress. Officers reported seeing a weapon, though none was recovered from the scene. The Independent Police Review Authority is reviewing the case. During the meeting, Ald. Lopez said, numerous concerns were shared by attendees, including the need to ensure that officers patrolling 15th Ward communities in tactical and beat cars are African-American and Latino, to build stronger relationships between police and youth in the community, to increase local cultural sensitivity, and to pursue ways to incentivize community outreach with the rank-and-file. “Our communities have been deeply affected by this tragedy,” said Ald. Lopez. “Ultimately, it is our hope that we will emerge more united because of it, with improved community-police relations and a stronger community as a whole.”