Family Files Suit Against Winnebago County Sheriff's Deputy: Unarmed Black Teen Running from Scene of Robbery Shot 3 Times in the Back by Cop

In photo, award winning officer Frank Pobjecky. From [HERE] and [HERE] Claiming excessive force and a failure to provide basic medical care, the family of a Black teenager shot and killed by an off-duty Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputy Oct. 1 as he foiled a robbery at Marie’s Pizza today filed a civil lawsuit in federal court.

Michael Sago Jr., 16, was shot and killed by Sheriff’s Deputy Frank Pobjecky as the officer stopped an armed robbery at the Charles Street restaurant. Pobjecky also shot and wounded Lamar Coates, Desmond Bellmon and Brandon Sago during the incident.

There is no evidence Sago Jr. even knew the restaurant was going to be robbed before he was shot in the back three times and killed while trying to run, the family’s lawyer Bill Foutris said.

"Were it not for the gross misconduct of Frank Pobjecky, Michael Sago, Jr. would be alive today," said Foutris. "Michael was an unarmed minor who was running from the scene. He was a 16-year-old who was shot in the back not once, but three times even though he did not present a threat to Pobjecky," explained Foutris.

The six-count lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages from Pobjecky, as well as compensatory damages from the other defendants.

Meanwhile, the three suspects facing charges in the shooting continue the legal process. Brandon Sago, Desmond Bellmon, and Lamar Coates, all from Rockford, have pleaded not guilty to charges in a 21-count indictment handed down by a grand jury. Charges include: eight counts of first degree murder, two counts of attempted first degree murder, four counts of armed robbery, and four counts of attempted armed robbery, three counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery (one count for each defendant), six counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (two counts for each defendant), three counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon (one count for each defendant), and three counts of mob action (one count for each defendant).