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Bodycam video shows University of Chicago cop open fire on gunman
The University of Chicago Police Department has released video that shows a shootout between a campus police officer and gunman on Tuesday. WARNING: Some may find the video graphic and disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
CHICAGO — A man was charged Thursday in the shootout with a University of Chicago police officer that left him critically wounded.
Rhysheen Wilson, 28, was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon, according to a statement from the University of Chicago.
The university identified the officer in Tuesday’s shooting as Nicolas Twardak, the same officer who shot Charles Soji Thomas while he was possibly having a mental episode. That shooting happened in April 2018 after police responded as Thomas was smashing car windows with a pipe.
Thomas allegedly charged at the officer while holding the pipe and was shot.
The Chicago Police Department and the university reviewed the shooting, and both reviews found that the officer’s actions were "consistent with applicable law," the school said.
Twardak has been an officer at the university since 2016, the school said. In addition to patrol duties, he has served as a field training officer and bike officer, according to the school.
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Video shows U of C campus officer opening fire on gunman
The University of Chicago Police Department has released video that shows a shootout between a campus police officer and gunman on Tuesday.
The university said Twardak was on patrol about 11:40 a.m. Tuesday near Woodlawn Avenue and Hyde Park Boulevard when he saw Wilson on foot with a handgun.
Twardak stopped his squad car to question Wilson when he began firing shots at the officer, who returned fire, striking him, officials said.
After repeatedly being told to drop his weapon, Wilson continued to move toward the officer with his gun drawn and was shot again, according to a statement from the university.
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Twardak rendered aid to the man before he was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he remains in critical condition, the statement said.
No one else was injured, the school said in its statement, which added that Wilson is not affiliated with the school.
The University of Chicago Police Department released three different videos showing the shootout on Wednesday. One video is bodycam footage from the officer. A second video shows the suspect walking down S. Woodlawn Ave. with the gun in his hand when he raises his arm and appears to fire, officials said.
A third video shows the suspect with the gun in his hand advancing toward the officer and being struck by the officer's gunfire, officials said.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.