Introduction to the Trial
Over two years after a Chicago police officer was fatally shot responding to a domestic incident in Gage Park, the trial for his alleged killer began Tuesday with prosecutors introducing jurors to two men they say lived two very different lives. Chicago police Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso made choices to be proud of, Assistant State’s Attorney Katie Siefert told jurors Tuesday morning. “He made a choice to put on that uniform,” Siefert said. “He made a choice to serve his community, he made a choice to answer his calling to serve and protect, and he was killed in the line of duty doing just that.”
The Alleged Killer’s Actions
On the other hand, Steven Montano, the 21-year-old charged in his murder, made a series of “despicable choices,” Seifert told jurors. “He made a choice to run onto a playground with that loaded handgun, and he made a choice to point a loaded handgun at a uniformed Chicago police officer,” Seifert said. “When he was done making those choices, he made five more,” Seifert added, referring to the five shots Montano allegedly fired at Vasquez Lasso.
The Defense’s Perspective
The courtroom at Leighton Criminal Courthouse was packed with Vasquez Lasso’s family and fellow officers there to hear opening statements in Montano’s trial. His defense painted a picture of a then-18-year-old who had been separated from his parents, was wary of police, and “had a very unfortunate reaction” when pursued by officers on March 1, 2023. “This is not first-degree murder,” Assistant Public Defender Hussain Khan told jurors. “He was de-escalating, he was running away, and he was cornered and had the most unfortunate reaction.” Khan told jurors they would hear from more than twenty witnesses over the next week, but asked that they keep an open mind. “They will tell you what happened, Khan told jurors. “Not one person will tell you why it happened, except for Steven.” Montano’s defense attorneys said they expect to call him to testify.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
After openings, the state’s first witness was Vasquez Lasso’s wife, Milena Estepa, who recounted for jurors the morning hours of March 1, 2023, when the officer woke up early to say goodbye before Estepa left for work as a flight attendant. Later that day, a police squad car would rush Estepa from O’Hare Airport to Mount Sinai Hospital to see her husband one last time. Estepa kept her answers brief, fighting through tears during her 10 minutes on the stand. Hundreds mourned the death of Vasquez Lasso, who officers said personified the American dream. Vasquez Lasso came to the United States from Colombia at the age of 18, learned English, and joined the Chicago Police Department at 27.
The Investigation and Trial
On March 1, 2023, Vasquez Lasso was working an afternoon shift in the Chicago Lawn District when officers were called to a domestic incident in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue. Montano and his then 37-year-old girlfriend had been arguing when he charged at her and told her he had a gun, she testified in court Tuesday. She left the apartment from a side door, called 911 and reported that Montano was armed, but Montano followed, hung up on dispatchers and threw away the phone, she said. When officers arrived, Montano jumped from a window into a gangway and ran toward an alley, carrying what appeared to be a gun, according to prosecutors. Vasquez Lasso arrived as backup and spotted Montano running toward Sawyer Elementary School. He chased after, repeatedly ordering for Montano to stop, prosecutors said. As Montano ran into a fenced playground area, he suddenly turned and pointed a gun at Vasquez Lasso, prosecutors said. He fired five times, hitting Vasquez Lasso in the head, arm and leg, prosecutors said. The officer fired twice, hitting Montano in the face.
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