CHICAGO (AP) - Five Cook County Jail inmates who applauded as the man charged with the fatal shooting of a Chicago police commander was led by their cell could face reprisals for their actions.
The incident happened Thursday after suspect Shomari Legghette appeared in court on first-degree murder charges in the Tuesday slaying of Commander Paul Bauer.
Sheriff's Department official Cara Smith says Friday that a security camera captured the "disgraceful" clapping by inmates being held in a holding cell pending action on their cases. She says the video is being sent to prosecutors so that if the men are convicted, the judge can consider it as a "factor in aggravation" and perhaps impose a stiffer sentence. The five inmates were transferred overnight from Chicago to a southern Illinois jail.