Off-duty female cop is cleared of wrongdoing after killing victim of Chicago gangsters who tried to take her gun after he was attacked

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 22:08, 8 July 2026 | Updated: 22:20, 8 July 2026 An off-duty cop in Chicago has been cleared of wrongdoing after she fatally shot a man who attempted to steal her gun after he was attacked by a group of three men.  Probationary Officer Precious Dunn was spared charges following the fatal shooting Leevon Smith, 39, outside her home three years ago.  Dunn came face to face with Smith outside of her apartment on the afternoon of January 18, 2023, moments after he had been punched and kicked by three men further down her block.  He later told law enforcement that the group had been attempting to steal his clothes and medicine, and that one of his attackers said that they had a gun.  The gang stopped their attack after a woman began yelling at them and started making their way towards Dunn's apartment building trailed by Smith, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) said.  Dunn walked out of her home to check on the commotion just before 1pm and Smith asked if he could use her cell phone.  But as they conversed the gang reappeared and warned Dunn that if she gave her cell phone to the victim he would 'beat her a**', prosecutors said. Dunn advised the group to go home and security footage captured her lifting her sweater to reveal a gun holster on her hip and the group eventually walked away.  Probationary Officer Precious Dunn was spared charges following the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Leevon Smith outside of the officer's home three years ago Dunn was heard warning Smith that she would kill him, to which Smith said: 'You're gonna have to kill me then.' 'Watch this,' Dunn responded before firing at him Dunn had heard a commotion outside of her apartment on the afternoon of January 18, 2023, after Smith had been attacked and tried to steal the officer's gun The probationary officer later claimed that she brandished her weapon to the group after one attacker showed her the butt of his gun and told her he would shoot her if she gave Smith a phone.  Dunn then began making her way back to her apartment building but was grabbed by Smith, according to COPA.  'As PPO Dunn was passing [Smith], he turned and grabbed PPO Dunn from the back,' a report by COPA said. 'A physical struggle began between the two and PPO Dunn unholstered her firearm as she and [Smith] were up against the building.' Dunn was heard warning Smith that she would kill him, to which Smith said: 'You're gonna have to kill me then.' 'Watch this,' Dunn responded before firing a shot, footage showed.   As Smith struggled to disarm the officer he fell to the ground. 'I'm sorry,' Smith said before a second shot rang out and he yelled: 'You got me! You got me!' 'I told your dumba** I'd kill you. I told you I'd shoot you,' Dunn answered.  After both Dunn and Smith were transported to hospital, Smith, after initially denying any wrongdoing, explained to officers that he had tried to grab the gun because he panicked COPA said it could not conclude through evidence presented that Dunn violated CPD policy or that the use of deadly force was not 'objectively reasonable considering the totality of the circumstances she face'  Dunn was heard yelling out for a nearby bystander to call for the police and report a shooting resulted from an attempted robbery. Smith apologized to Dunn as she continued to call out for help, before a neighbor appeared.  After a brief conversation, Dunn went back into her home and reemerged with her cellphone before making a call, describing how Smith had 'tweaked.' The officer began to weep and called Smith a 'stupid b***,' repeatedly shouting 'f*** you' to him, according to COPA.  After both Dunn and Smith were transported to hospital, Smith, after initially denying any wrongdoing, explained to officers that he had tried to grab the gun because he panicked.  On January 20, two days after the altercation, Smith passed away from his injuries. An autopsy identified that the victim had sustained a gunshot wound to his left pinky finger, left hand and his abdomen, the report detailed.  Dunn was accused of unlawfully and/or unnecessarily displaying her firearm, failing to identify herself as a police officer, verbal abuse and discharging her weapon.  Dunn admitted that she did not identify herself as a police officer over fears that she would be killed, following comments from one attacker who had said he would shoot the police.  She also claimed she had threatened Smith's life and called him a 'dumba**' and 'b***' because she was 'fighting for her life and wanted to scare [him] away,' COPA's report stated. The Office of the State's Attorney also concluded that the incident would incur no criminal charges against Dunn Following an investigation, COPA said it could not conclude through evidence presented that Dunn violated Chicago Police Department (CPD) policy or that the use of deadly force was not 'objectively reasonable considering the totality of the circumstances she face.' 'The totality of the circumstances therefore indicates that likely posed an imminent threat to PPO Dunn. Additionally, the use of deadly force was likely necessary and proportional to the threat posed by while he attempted to disarm PPO Dunn,' the report concluded.  The Office of the State's Attorney also concluded that the incident would incur no criminal charges against Dunn. 'In this case the evidence shows that Officer Dunn had a reasonable belief that Leevon Smith put her in imminent danger of bodily harm or death,' a memorandum document stated.  Smith's sister, Tequila Smith, had launched a $10 million lawsuit against the City of Chicago and the police officer, which she lost in June. Dunn completed her probation and remains a sworn CPD officer on a $105,906-a-year salary, records show. The Daily Mail reached out to Dunn and the City of Chicago for comment. The CPD referred inquiries to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.