The man who murdered a Chicago police commander in 2018 was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday.
Shomari Legghette, 47, recieved a mandatory life term for the February 2018 shooting of Cmdr. Paul Bauer, 53.
Despite statements made by the victim's widow and daughter minutes before his sentencing, Legghette didn’t apologize for the crime, reports said. Instead, he argued the trial wasn't fair and suggested he was a victim.
The shooting occurred after Bauer heard a radio call that a man was running from officers as he was walking to City Hall on Feb. 13, 2018, authorities have said. The police commander chased and caught Legghette before they both fell down a stairwell during a struggle. Legghette then shot Beuer six times, twice in the head, authorities have said.
At the sentencing hearing, Paul Bauer’s daughter Grace, said she envisions what life would be like if her father had stayed home on that February day over two years ago, WGN reports.
“My life isn’t too optimistic anymore because the good guys didn’t win. I’m not living in my perfect world anymore and I cannot go back to it,” Grace Bauer said.
Prosecutors described Legghette as a “human crime wave” on the day of the shooting. They said he was wearing illegal body armor, carrying a gun with an extended magazine, as well as an ice pick-type weapon. Legghette also had drugs on him, Fox News reports.
After the sentencing, John Catanzara, president of the union that represents rank-and-file Chicago police officers, told the Chicago Tribune the life sentence was not sufficient.
“I wish the death penalty was still in effect in Illinois,” he told reporters. “(Legghette) showed no remorse, he showed arrogance, still making excuses, why waste taxpayer dollars to keep him alive any longer than necessary?"
