CHICAGO — The man accused of killing a Chicago cop last month entered a not guilty plea Wednesday.
Steven Montano, 18, answered a few “yes or no” questions during the court hearing, before his public defender entered the plea of not guilty.
Montano is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of police Officer Andres Vásquez Lasso. He is also facing a number of additional felony charges.
Montano is being held without bond.
On March 1, Vásquez Lasso was investigating a domestic-related call in the 5200 block of South Spaulding and saw Montano running from the scene with a gun.
Court records say Officer Vásquez Lasso started chasing him, and the two men exchanged gunfire. The officer was shot several times and was killed.
Montano was shot and transported to a hospital in critical condition, but has since been released and is currently in Cook County Jail.
Dozens of police officers were inside and outside of the courtroom Wednesday to show their support.
The judge allowed each of Montano’s family members to hug Montano, which police inside the courtroom were not happy about. The last family member to hug the 18-year-old was his father, who spoke to him in Spanish.
After several warnings from the judge to stop, Montano and his father were both taken back. His father is now being held with contempt. The contempt hearing will be held later Wednesday afternoon.
The judge also ruled that the information pertaining to the case including COPA’s investigation with not be made public until the trial.
Montano’s next court date is scheduled for June 7.
