Supt. McCarthy moves to fire officer who fatally shot Rekia Boyd

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago police superintendent is recommending that an officer who shot and killed an unarmed black woman in 2012 be fired.

A board that reviews allegations of misconduct by Chicago police officers recommended in September that Officer Dante Servin be fired for the shooting of 22-year-old Rekia Boyd. Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said in a statement Monday night that he agreed with that assessment.

McCarthy said Servin showed "incredibly poor judgment."

Boyd died after one of the five bullets from Servin's handgun pierced her head. Servin said he fired because he felt threatened when he confronted a group at a park. A judge found Servin not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and other charges during a trial that ended in April.

McCarthy says the charges justifying Servin's firing will be sent to the Chicago Police Board, which makes disciplinary decisions, for further action.

"After considerable deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that Officer Dante Servin showed incredibly poor judgement in his efforts to intervene in a low-level dispute while off-duty," said Superintendent McCarthy. "His actions tragically resulted in the death of an innocent young woman and an unthinkable loss for a Chicago family and community. In the end, CPD has rules that we all must live by. Officer Servin violated those rules and he's going to be held accountable for that."

Servin was off-duty early the morning of March 21, 2012, when he fatally shot Rekia Boyd.