No Charges for Man Who Fired Gun at Pro-Palestinian Rally in Chicago, Deemed Self-Defense

After review of surveillance footage and statements, Cook County State’s Attorney's officials determine 39-year-old man, who fired a shot into the air near a group of pro-Palestinian protesters and holds a valid firearm owners ID card and conceal carry license with no criminal history, acted in self-defense when surrounded and attacked by individuals.

• The Cook County State's Attorney's office will not file charges against a 39-year-old man who fired a shot into the air near a pro-Palestinian rally outside a banquet hall in Skokie, Chicago, amid claims of self-defense.
• The man in question, whose car was adorned with Israeli flags, was surrounded and allegedly attacked by a group of individuals before firing the shot.
• The accused possesses a legal firearm owner's ID card and a concealed carry license, and has no criminal history, which factored into the decision by officials.
• At the same scene, another man was reportedly arrested after pepper-spraying protestors, a Chicago police officer, and a Sun-Times reporter. The State's Attorney office has not addressed whether charges will be filed against him.
• The pro-Palestinian rally, organized by the U.S. Palestinian Community Network and the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, took place alongside an event standing in solidarity with Israel.

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