Gunman Shot by UCPD Officer on Tuesday Charged; Involved Officer Also Shot Charles Thomas in 2018

The Illinois State’s Lawyer’s Workplace has permitted legal prices towards Rhysheen Wilson, the 28-year-old man shot by UCPD officer Nicolas Twardak on Tuesday. The College recognized Twardak as the identical officer who shot former UChicago scholar Charles Soji Thomas in 2018. 

In accordance with an announcement supplied to The Maroon by the College, the Illinois State’s Lawyer’s Workplace charged Wilson with one depend every of tried homicide of a police officer, aggravated discharge of a firearm to an individual, and aggravated unauthorized use of a weapon. In accordance with College coverage, Twardak is at the moment on obligatory administrative depart following the capturing incident with Wilson, whereas the College and CPD conduct investigations into the occasion. 

On Tuesday, in line with police scanner data and College experiences, Twardak was on patrol on S. Woodlawn Avenue when he noticed Wilson strolling on Woodlawn Avenue with a handgun drawn. When Twardak stopped his automobile to research, Wilson fired his gun. Twardak ordered him to get on the bottom; Wilson continued to fireside his gun and superior in the direction of Twardak, who then shot Wilson twice within the thigh. Wilson was then taken to the College of Chicago Medical Middle, the place, in line with a College spokesperson, Wilson stays in essential situation as of Thursday morning.

In April 2018, Twardak was concerned within the capturing of then-student Charles Thomas. Thomas was breaking home windows of a constructing and a number of automobiles in an alleyway with a steel pole when Twardak arrived on the scene. Physique digital camera footage exhibits Thomas disobeying instructions to place the pole down and never method cops earlier than operating in the direction of Twardak with the pole. Twardak then shot him within the shoulder. Thomas’ dad and mom believe Thomas’s habits was linked to a psychiatric episode.

Subsequent investigations by CPD and the College dominated that Twardak’s actions within the Thomas capturing “had been in keeping with relevant legislation.” In March 2020, Thomas sued the College and Twardak for misconduct and negligence.

Following the incident, Thomas was charged with three felony counts of aggravated assault of a police officer and 5 felony counts of legal injury of property. In Might 2021, these prices had been dropped after Thomas accomplished a diversion program for first-time felony offenders. 

Thomas’s capturing prompted allegations of racial bias and a surge of organizing round campus policing, together with the formation of the scholar group #CareNotCops (CNC). Within the intervening 4 years, CNC has demanded the College defund and disband the UCPD, alleging that campus police exhibit racial bias and obtain insufficient psychological well being coaching. 

CNC organizers have expressed concern over similarities between the Thomas and Wilson instances. “From what we all know proper now, it looks as if he was present process a psychological well being disaster, which simply additional connects it to Soji,” Warren Wagner, an organizer with CNC, advised the Solar-Instances on Wednesday.