Joliet, IL: Jury sides with state cop in fatal shooting October 22, 2010 Fearing for his life and that of his partner, Illinois State Police Sgt. Bryan Falat said, he made a split-second decision to kill an unarmed off-duty prison guard. A federal jury deliberated 2 1/2 hours Friday before finding Falat was justified when he used deadly force April 24, 2008. Jurors rejected a request by Lernard Grigsby's three children to award at least $12 million in damages. "No one wants to see their dad killed and, as much as our hearts wanted to go in one direction, the evidence didn't support it," said jury forewoman Mary Cothern, of Tinley Park. Ads by Google Advertisement Grigsby's ex-girlfriend called 911 after she said he refused to return her cellular phone. Falat arrived, and during the ensuing scuffle twice shot Grigsby, 48, inside the employee dormitory at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet. Grigsby died four days later.

Jury sides with state cop in fatal shooting
October 22, 2010
Fearing for his life and that of his partner, Illinois State Police Sgt. Bryan Falat said, he made a split-second decision to kill an unarmed off-duty prison guard.

A federal jury deliberated 2 1/2 hours Friday before finding Falat was justified when he used deadly force April 24, 2008. Jurors rejected a request by Lernard Grigsby's three children to award at least $12 million in damages.

"No one wants to see their dad killed and, as much as our hearts wanted to go in one direction, the evidence didn't support it," said jury forewoman Mary Cothern, of Tinley Park.

Grigsby's ex-girlfriend called 911 after she said he refused to return her cellular phone. Falat arrived, and during the ensuing scuffle twice shot Grigsby, 48, inside the employee dormitory at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet. Grigsby died four days later.