Family Demands Answers After Chicago Police Fatally Shoot Man in Humboldt Park

Relatives dispute police account of incident, question use of deadly force and lack of de-escalation

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:05pm

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A neighborhood barbecue in Chicago's Humboldt Park turned tragic when police shot and killed 41-year-old Derek Jordan, prompting his family to seek answers and accountability. Police say Jordan's vehicle was linked to an earlier expressway shooting and that he struck a pedestrian, multiple vehicles and a CTA bus while fleeing, but relatives dispute the official account and question why deadly force was used.

Why it matters

The shooting has raised concerns in the community about police use of force, with Jordan's family alleging officers failed to de-escalate the situation. The incident is under investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which reviews such cases in Chicago.

The details

According to witnesses, the scene unfolded Monday evening near the 800 block of North Homan Avenue. Natasha Brown, Jordan's cousin, said she was about to walk across the street toward him when police emerged from an alley in unmarked vehicles. Brown said Jordan then backed up his white Mercedes, and officers surrounded the vehicle before opening fire. Police claim Jordan's car was wanted in connection with an earlier expressway shooting and that he struck a pedestrian and multiple vehicles before crashing into a CTA bus and a police car. However, Jordan's relatives say a public alert described a different suspect, and they question why deadly force was used when officers could have shot the tires.

  • The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 11, 2026.
  • A public alert about the earlier expressway shooting was sent out to the public.

The players

Derek Jordan

A 41-year-old Chicago resident who was fatally shot by police in Humboldt Park.

Natasha Brown

Jordan's cousin, who witnessed the shooting and disputed the police account.

Jasiman Griffin

Jordan's cousin, who said a public alert described a different suspect in the earlier expressway shooting.

Christine Thompkins

Jordan's mother, who said her son was more than just a "Black male shot by CPD."

Civilian Office of Police Accountability

The independent agency that is investigating the shooting.

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What they’re saying

“I'm about to go walk across the street toward him. But as I'm doing that, police come out, driving out the alley and he backed up. As he backed, I'm just seeing police coming from everywhere and him taking off.”

— Natasha Brown, Jordan's cousin (fox32chicago.com)

“It was a citizen's alert that was sent out to the public that it was a white male that was involved in the shooting on I-290. They are saying the car was stolen when we have the registered owner of the vehicle right here with us today.”

— Jasiman Griffin, Jordan's cousin (fox32chicago.com)

“There was no de-escalation. Even if there was a back and forth for over a minute, why not shoot the tires? You shot six times into a vehicle with tinted windows. You didn't know who was in the vehicle.”

— Jasiman Griffin, Jordan's cousin (fox32chicago.com)

“He's a human being, a father, a cousin, an uncle, a friend to a lot of people. And the only thing we saw on the headline was Black male shot by CPD.”

— Christine Thompkins, Jordan's mother (fox32chicago.com)

“We need justice. We need accountability. And we're not stopping until something happens.”

— Christine Thompkins, Jordan's mother (fox32chicago.com)

What’s next

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the shooting, and Jordan's family says they will continue to push for answers and accountability.

The takeaway

This incident has raised concerns in the Humboldt Park community about police use of force and the need for de-escalation, as well as questions about the accuracy of the initial police account. The family's calls for justice and accountability reflect broader tensions around policing and racial equity in Chicago.