Chicago family sues city over fatal police shooting of Derek Jordan

The family of Derek Jordan has filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Chicago and Officer Max W. Walzer following a fatal police shooting in Humboldt Park on March 9, 2026. The lawsuit alleges that Officer Walzer used unjustified deadly force and escalated the encounter by making verbal threats to kill Jordan.

According to police reports, officers were pursuing a vehicle allegedly linked to a shooting. The pursuit ended when the vehicle was boxed in near Homan and Chicago avenues. Legal representatives for the Jordan estate claim that while other officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, Walzer arrived with his weapon drawn, shouted threats, and fired six shots into the vehicle less than 20 seconds after arriving on the scene.

Jordan’s family maintains he was an innocent man who had committed no crime. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is currently investigating the incident, and Officer Walzer remains on active duty.