Son of Achill man shot dead in south Chicago bar

Son of Achill man shot dead in south Chicago bar

Anton McNulty

THE son of an Achill-born emigrant was shot dead in a Chicago bar by an off-duty police sergeant following a confrontation in the bar last Sunday.
Joseph McGinty was killed when he was shot by an off-duty Chicago Police Sergeant in a bar after he reportedly shot and wounded another patron. The shootings occurred around 6.30pm on Sunday, December 7 in the Blackthorn Bar, in the predominately Irish American neighbourhood of Mount Greenwood in Southwest Chicago.
Mr McGinty (45) was the son of the late Denis McGinty, a native of Dooega on Achill Island who emigrated to the United States over 50 years ago.
It is believed a confrontation began with a fight between McGinty and another patron inside the Irish bar when McGinty was alleged to have pulled a gun and shot the other man, Chicago police Deputy Chief Berscott Ruiz is quoted as saying in The Chicago Tribune.
An off-duty police sergeant was in the bar at the time and was reported to have drawn his service gun, announced he was a police officer and ordered McGinty to drop his weapon.
According to a police statement, McGinty began to fan his gun through the bar, pointing it at other patrons and at the sergeant.  The sergeant opened fire and shot McGinty who was later pronounced dead at the scene at 6.49pm.
The other patron who was alleged to have been shot by McGinty was taken to hospital and was reported to have been in a critical condition.
No other patrons were injured in the incident and the weapon McGinty was reported to have had was found at the scene. An autopsy on Mr McGinty found he died of multiple gunshot wounds and the medical examiner’s office ruled his death a homicide.
The Chicago Independent Police Review Authority which investigates or reviews all officer involved shootings confirmed that they were investigating the shooting.
Mr McGinty lived a mile and a half from the bar and his Funeral Mass took place on Saturday in Oak Lawn, a suburb of Chicago. He is predeceased by his father, Denis and survived by his mother, Lucille; and siblings, John, Lucy, Linda, Denis, Nancy and Michael.