Top aide of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel attacked at shooting vigil

CHICAGO, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A deputy chief of staff to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was attacked while attending a vigil for two people shot and killed by Chicago police.

Vance Henry, 50, was punched in the face, pushed to the ground and beaten by a man who said, "What are you doing here, you should be downtown doing something about this."

The man also said "the police are killing us," authorities said.

Henry was attending a vigil for Quintonio LeGrier, a 19-year-old college student, and Bettie Jones, a 55-year-old mother and grandmother, who were shot and killed Saturday by police. Family members said LeGrier was suffering a mental health problem when he threatened his parents with a baseball bat. Police said Jones was accidentally shot in the incident.

City Hall spokesman Adam Collins said, "We are aware that on Sunday afternoon there was an altercation involving one of our staff members. We take this matter very seriously and the incident is under review."

No one has been taken into custody in the assault.

The attack on Henry comes as Chicago law enforcement is facing increased scrutiny for police-involved shootings, including the death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. In early December, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy resigned on Emanuel's request. Many have called for Emanuel's resignation as well.