Source: Joe Raedle / Getty
A 46-year-old unarmed Black woman lost her life on June 12 after a man who posed as a cop fatally shot her around 11:30 p.m. at a Northwest Chicago Walgreens.
The woman, identified Sircie Varnado, sustained a gunshot wound to her forehead according to the Cook County Medical Examiner. Her death has been ruled a homicide, according to the Chicago Tribune. An ex-security guard has been identified as the shooter and has been communicating with investigators through his lawyer, ABC Chicago reports. Police have not yet made an arrest.
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The reported shooter once worked for Monterey Security, but alarmingly has multiple items on his record including arrests on drug, assault and impersonating a federal employee charges, the Tribune reports.
On the evening in question Varnado was reportedly approached by the store manager who accused her of shoplifting. After a struggle, he called an ex-security guard who lived near the store. The man approached Varnado and an argument ensued.
During their altercation he can be seen on surveillance video as he pushed Varnado to the floor and fired one shot aimed at her head. Varnado had five boxes of leggings and a black t-shirt in her possession. The shooter then drove away in a dark SUV.
Varnado was transported to nearby Mt. Sinai hospital where she was pronounced dead.
But Varnado’s family and close loved ones want answers as to why anyone would carry out such a brash action in an alleged shoplifting scenario. The family has also created a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of funeral expenses.
“We really need to know what’s going on because she was loved and she had family,” Nydia Foster, Varnado’s niece told ABC Chicago.
“There are many ways he could have apprehended her without shooting her in the face,” said Varnado’s sister Maria Reed. “He could have tased her, he could have subdued her, hold her down, even pepper sprayed her, at least she would have been alive.”
ABC Chicago has obtained a statement by a Walgreens spokesperson. “We are committed to providing a safe environment for our employees, patients and customers in the communities we serve,” the company said in a statement obtained by ABC Chicago.
Social media has erupted over the tragic shooting, again summarizing another senseless murder and assault against Black bodies.
