CHICAGO (WGN) — The man accused of killing a Chicago Police officer in 2023 took the stand in his own defense Friday ahead of closing arguments on Monday.
Steven Montano faces a first-degree murder charge and felony gun charges in the shooting death of Chicago Police Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso. It will be up to a Cook County jury to determine the credibility of Montano’s testimony.
Jurors will have the weekend to ponder.
Forensic experts testify as closing arguments near in trial of slain Chicago police officer
Inside the Cook County Criminal Courthouse, Montano testified that he was terrified by police. Montano described alleged encounters as a boy with CPD, though his account, at times, stopped short of seemingly corroborating evidence. Montano’s fear of police, he told jurors, was the reason why he fled on foot in March of 2023 as patrol officers and Andres Vasquez Lasso responded to a domestic disturbance call placed by Montano’s girlfriend…