Man Handed Life Sentence in Slaying Of Chicago Police Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso

CHICAGO — A Chicago man, who was under 21 when he fatally shot 32-year-old Chicago Police Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso, was handed a life sentence Tuesday after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder in July.

Vasquez-Lasso was responding to a call from a woman claiming she was being chased by her boyfriend, during the late afternoon of March 1, 2023. Officers, including Vasquez-Lasso arrived in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue, they confronted Montano, then 18, who fled from the officers, according to police.

As the officers pursued Montano at close range, Montano “without warning or notice” shot Vasquez-Lasso multiple times. The officer, despite his mortal wounds, returned fire, striking Montano in the chin, then-CPD Supt. David Brown said.

Steven Montano, 21, was sentenced to life for the slaying of a Chicago police officer | CCSO

During his trial at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building, Montano’s argued that the deadly shooting was a tragedy and bad choice, not murder, ABC 7 Chicago reported.

Montano took the stand, claiming he ran away from the officers because of past negative encounters with police and profiling.

Vásquez Lasso's widow was among those who testified at Montano’s trial. . Jurors also saw police body camera video, even from Vásquez Lasso, that captured the deadly encounter and aftermath.

Other witnesses who testified included residents who were on the Sawyer Elementary School playground during the exchange of gunfire, where adults and children were forced to take cover under a slide.

Jurors were given the option of finding Montano guilty of first-degree or second-degree murder, but the jury declined to consider the lesser charge.

Vazquez Lasso served on the Chicago police force for five years. At the time of his death was a newlywed and had just purchased a house with his wife.

Montano has been held in Cook County Jail since his pre-detention hearing in March 2023, with time applied to his sentence of natural life. Because he was under 21 at the time of the shooting, Montano will be eligible for parole after 40 years.