Chicago, IL – A woman is suing the City of Chicago after she was allegedly shot with a gun that had been previously surrendered during a police gun buyback program but was later reported missing and used in multiple shootings.
Key Details of the Case
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the lawsuit claims that city officials failed to properly secure a .45-caliber Glock 21 handgun turned in during a Chicago Police Department buyback event.
Here’s what we know so far:
- The plaintiff, Twanda Willingham, was shot in August 2023 in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.
- The gun used in the shooting had been surrendered earlier in a buyback program held at Saint Sabina Church.
- The weapon reportedly went missing while being transported to a police station located just blocks away.
- It wasn’t recovered until November 2024, when ballistics testing linked it to Willingham’s shooting and two others.
- The gun was later found in possession of a 16-year-old boy, who pleaded guilty in April to unlawful possession.
Allegations Against the City
The lawsuit does not name specific officers, but instead accuses the City of Chicago and “unknown” police officers of negligence and alleges a potential cover-up surrounding the weapon’s disappearance.
The Chicago Sun-Times also reported that inventory records for the missing gun included the name of Officer Krystal Rivera, who died in a friendly fire incident in June. However, she was cleared during an internal investigation and is not a defendant in the case.
What’s Next?
The civil case now moves forward as attorneys for Willingham seek accountability for the mishandling of a gun that should have been permanently off the streets.
What do you think? Should cities be held legally responsible for mismanaged weapons in buyback programs?
Share your thoughts with us at BethelAdvocate.com.
