Shaquille Wilson, a Black man who was cleared of murder charges in a shooting in Sauk Village has sued the village and other communities in south suburban Cook County, claiming they all conspired to falsely charge him with the crime, even though he allegedly did not match the description of the shooter.
The shooting occurred Aug. 14, 2014, on West Sauk Trail in Sauk Village, according to the lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. Four people were hit, and one later died of gunshot wounds, the suit states.
"The shooter was readily identified as being a black male with shoulder length dreadlocks," according to the lawsuit. "No later than August 14, 2014, the Defendant Officers knew that the description of the shooter and person responsible for the deaths of the deceased victim and other victims did
not match any description of Shaquille Wilson."
Wilson was charged with first-degree murder on Aug. 18, 2014, even though he did not meet the description of the shooter, the lawsuit states.
"Officers knew that Shaquille Wilson was not the shooter," the suit said. "Defendant Officers knew that Shaquille Wilson did not commit First Degree
Murder or the shootings for which he was arrested for."
Wilson remained in jail for about eight years before a jury found him not guilty on Nov. 2, 2022, according to the suit.
Wilson seeks more than $50,000 in damages, plus interest and attorney fees.
He is represented by attorney Brandon Brown, of The Brown Law Ltd., of Chicago.