The family of Karen Henry, a 61-year-old Black woman tragically killed during a police chase on Chicago’s South Side, has filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago, alleging that officers acted with “reckless disregard” for public safety in violation of department policy.
The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, stems from the deadly events of November 20, 2024, when a stolen vehicle fleeing police struck Henry’s car near 60th and State Street, also involving a CTA bus. Henry died from her injuries, and nearly a dozen others were hurt in the violent crash.
Henry’s mother, Bethel Branford, who is leading the legal action, expressed her grief and frustration.
“Every day I remain completely devastated by the death of my beautiful daughter, and how senseless it was,” Branford said, according to Fox 32 Chicago. “This never, ever had to happen if the Chicago Police had used common sense to prioritize the safety of people in the community over a car chase.”
The complaint argues that officers did not obtain the required supervisory approval to engage in the pursuit, which is mandated by the Chicago Police Department’s own policies. Instead, the officers allegedly initiated the high-speed chase on their own, leading to catastrophic consequences.
Reckless Pursuit or Preventable Tragedy?
The family’s attorney, Antonio Romanucci, sharply criticized the city’s handling of pursuits in dense, urban neighborhoods.
“When officers choose to ignore policies designed to protect lives, the city becomes responsible for the outcome,” Romanucci said. “Karen Henry’s death should be a wake-up call for serious reform in how police chases are conducted in Chicago.”
Henry was reportedly driving home when her vehicle was struck. The car fleeing police had been reported stolen nearby, but the family insists that the danger of pursuing the suspects through a residential area outweighed the need for an immediate arrest.
The lawsuit calls for accountability, damages, and policy reform. It also raises broader questions about the balance between crime control and community safety, especially in Black neighborhoods that often bear the brunt of high-risk policing tactics.
The City of Chicago has not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
