Latest news with #StevenMontano
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Closing arguments begin Monday in Chicago police officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso murder trial
Closing arguments will begin Monday in the trial of Steven Montano, accused of killing Chicago police officer Andres Vasquez Lasso in 2023. Closing arguments are set to begin at any moment as the end of the trial nears. On Friday, Montano took the stand in his own defense. Wearing a pinstriped suit, Montano told the jury he shot officer Vasquez Lasso "out of pure fear." He described past negative experiences with police and said those encounters shaped his state of mind that day in March of 2023. That day began with a domestic disturbance call. When officers arrived, including Officer Vasquez Lasso, Montano said he jumped out a window with a gun in his hand. He testified that he heard a voice telling him to stop near a playground, and without knowing it was an officer, he opened fire. Montano told the court he didn't think and just reacted. When asked if he believed police would have shot him even if he surrendered, he said, "Yes." Montano faces a first-degree murder charge, as well as charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and opening fire near a school building. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Accused killer testifies he shot CPD Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso "out of pure fear"
The man accused of the murder of Chicago Police Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso two years ago took the stand in his own defense Friday at his trial, claiming he shot the officer "out of pure fear." Steven Montano, 21, is on trial for first-degree murder and other felonies, accused of shooting and killing Vásquez Lasso during a chase in Gage Park on March 1, 2023. On the fourth day of his trial on Friday, the accused killer answered questions for hours from his own attorneys and from prosecutors. Montano, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, talked extensively about his previous interactions with the police, which he said were overwhelmingly negative. The fear he said he felt towards officers was part of the reason why he went running after his girlfriend called 911 during a domestic dispute. Questioned by his own lawyer, Montano said shooting and killing Vásquez Lasso was "a reaction out of pure fear." "I just turned around and shot without thinking," he said. On the day of the shooting, Montano's girlfriend – who was 37 years old at the time – called 911 because she and Montano were having an argument, and she said he started chasing her with a gun. Vásquez Lasso responded to help officers on the scene of that domestic call. Montano testified that he jumped out of the window of the house he shared with his girlfriend and her seven children when police arrived. Montano said he had a gun with him, testifying he "felt like I was running for my life at that point." His defense team outlined multiple prior incidents when he said he had a negative interaction with police; including a time his father was pulled over and he said officers swarmed the car, and another incident when Montano was later charged for resisting arrest. On cross examination from prosecutors, he said the gun he used at the time of the shooting "just happened to fall into my possession." He said he heard a voice telling him to stop as he was running towards a playground nearby and that voice caused him to pull out his gun, even though he said he didn't know it was a police officer yelling. Prosecutors asked if he believed that officers would still have shot him if he had put his hands in the air, considering they were in the middle of an elementary school campus. Montano said yes. The prosecution has the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Montano committed first-degree murder. After Montano stepped down from the witness stand, prosecutors began questioning rebuttal witnesses to justifying each of the interactions police had with Montano before the shooting. Closing arguments have been scheduled to begin on Monday.
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Partner on force testifies in trial of man accused of killing CPD Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso
The partner and friend of Chicago police Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso testified Tuesday in the trial of Steven Montano, the man accused of Vásquez Lasso's murder. Montano, now 21, is charged with multiple counts of murder and other felonies, accused of fatally shooting Vásquez Lasso during a chase on March 1, 2023. Other officers who knew Vásquez Lasso and responded the day of the murder also took the stand Tuesday. As each officer who testified, prosecutors had the chance to show their body-worn cameras, revealing firsthand, up-close video of what happened that day. Officer Vásquez Lasso's family either stepped out for some of those videos, while others stayed and held tissues inside the courtroom. First to take the stand was Miguel Enciso, Officer Vásquez Lasso's friend and former partner on the force. The pair were assisting officers during a domestic violence call in the Southwest Side's Gage Park neighborhood during a domestic violence call that day in 2023, when Officer Vásquez Lasso was shot and killed in the line of duty. Enciso testified that they caught up to the defendant, Montano, was 18 at the time and was trying to flee the scene of the domestic dispute he was having with his then 37-year-old girlfriend. Enciso said he heard gunshots from both Officer Vásquez Lasso's and Montano's weapons simultaneously. Montano was shot in the jaw. Officer Enciso said he ran over to Montano, rather than his partner, because he thought Montano still had a gun. Enciso said he recovered the gun. At one point, prosecutors handed the weapon to Enciso in court. Enciso re-identified the weapon as Montano's. He testified that Montano shouted: "Just kill me! Just kill me!" and "Why didn't you kill me?" while calling for his girlfriend. When Officer Enciso told the defendant to be quiet, using expletives, he said Montano responded in turn, "You [do the same]. That's why I killed your [expletive] boy." Montano was in court Wednesday, as were some of his supporters. On Tuesday, the defense said the jury would hear from Montano at some point. He has yet to take the stand.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- CBS News
Trial to begin for Steven Montano, charged with murder of CPD Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso
The trial was set to begin Tuesday for the man charged with killing Chicago Police Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso. Steven Montano, 21, is charged with first-degree murder and other felony charges. The 16 jurors chosen in his trial will be officially sworn in on Tuesday, and then prosecutors and defense attorneys will present their opening statements. Vásquez Lasso was shot and killed in March of 2023 while responding to a domestic violence call at Montano's home in Gage Park. Prosecutors have said Montano's girlfriend called 911 after he threatened her with a gun, and Montano jumped out of the window of the house and ran away from police. Vásquez Lasso chased Montano on foot past Sawyer Elementary School where Vásquez Lasso got out of his squad car and chased Montano through a gate into the schoolyard. Prosecutors said the officer ordered Montano to stop several times, and Montano turned toward him while racking the slide on his handgun and pointed it at him. Both fired their guns, prosecutors said. Vásquez Lasso was shot in the head, arm, and leg and killed. Montano was shot in the mouth and fully recovered. The judge told the jury in Montano's case to expect the trial to last at least a week.
CBS News
14-07-2025
- CBS News
Jury picked for trial of man charged with shooting, killing Chicago police Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso
A jury was impaneled Monday for the trial of the man accused in the murder of Chicago police Officer Andrés Mauricio Vásquez Lasso. Officer Vásquez Lasso was shot and killed on the job back in March 2023. The now-21-year-old defendant, Steven Montano, was 18 at the time of the shooting. On March 1, 2023, Vásquez Lasso officer was responding to a call about a domestic incident near Montano's home in the Southwest Side's Gage Park neighborhood. Prosecutors from the Cook County State's Attorney's office said Montano's 37-year-old girlfriend called 911 after he threatened her with a gun. Montano jumped out of a window, into the gangway, and ran back toward the alley to get away from responding officers, according to prosecutors. An officer saw an object in Montano's hands, believing it was a gun. Montano kept running through neighboring yards and eventually past Sidney Sawyer Elementary School, at 5247 S. Spaulding Ave. That was where Officer Vásquez Lasso got out of his squad car and chased Montano through a gate — entering the schoolyard area, prosecutors said. Officer Vásquez Lasso ordered Montano to stop multiple times, prosecutors said. Eventually, Montano turned toward Vásquez Lasso while racking the slide on his pistol and pointed the gun at him, according to prosecutors. Both fired their guns, prosecutors said. Vásquez Lasso was shot in the head, arm, and leg and killed. Montano was shot in the mouth and fully recovered. He faces a first-degree murder charge, as well as charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and opening fire near a school building. The woman involved maintains she did not call 911 and says she was not threatened. During voir dire for jury selection on Monday, potential jurors were questioned about the type of TV they watch, their relationship and family dynamics, and whether they have family members in law enforcement. The judge told jurors to expect for this case to take about a week. They will be Tuesday morning for opening statements.
