Chicago police have finally released the video footage of the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo.
According to CNN, the footage recorded on March 29 shows that less than one second passed between the time the young boy pulled a handgun and an officer firing a single shot that struck Toledo in the chest and killed him.
The video was released on Thursday around 2:30 PM (CT) by the Chicago Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Ahead of its release, Lori Lightfoot, the Mayor of Chicago, warned that the video is “incredibly difficult to watch.”
“As a mom, this is not something you want children to see,” Lightfoot added.
During a meeting with the mayor’s office and attorney for the young boy’s family, “both parties agree that all material should be released, including a slowed-down compilation of the events” that resulted in Adam’s death.
Last month, officers were responding to a “shots fired” call in Chicago’s West Side. Upon arrival, authorities saw “two males in a nearby alley” and say one was armed and ran away.
One officer involved discharged his gun, which struck Toledo in the chest.
“We acknowledge that the release of this video is the first step in the process toward the healing of the family, the community and our city,” the joint statement said. “We understand that the release of this video will be incredibly painful and elicit an emotional response to all who view it, and we ask that people express themselves peacefully.”
Lightfoot said there was no evidence that Toledo fired at officers.
“I don’t want to get into the real substance of this because the independent investigation is going on, but I’ve seen no evidence whatsoever that Adam Toledo shot at the police,” she stated during a news conference.
Immediately after the shooting, officers on the scene tried to render aid to the victim.
According to COPA, an agency that investigates all police shootings, Toledo’s family has asked that the video and other evidence not be immediately released to the public after watching it on Tuesday.
“COPA has remained sensitive to the family’s grief and is carrying out this release in accordance with the City’s Video Release Policy,” it said in a statement Wednesday.
“COPA’s core values of integrity and transparency are essential to building public trust, particularly in incidents related to an officer-involved shooting, and we are unwavering in our commitment to uphold these values.”
The family’s legal team released an earlier statement on behalf of the family, saying that the footage was “extremely difficult and heartbreaking for everyone present,” particularly the family.
“We also want to thank leaders and members of the Latino community for remaining peaceful in their protests and calls for justice,” the statement said. “Adam’s memory can best be honored by refraining from violence and working constructively for reform.”
Lightfoot and other community leaders ask that demonstrators protests peacefully following the video’s release. When asked if she wanted the video released after the end of Derek Chauvin’s trial—the former white officer who killed George Floyd—the mayor said that the matter was “not really part of the calculus.”
“This is about being respectful and balancing the need for transparency with this grieving family that is having an extraordinarily difficult time.”
The Chicago Police Department issued a new order for officers of the department. The order governs some conduct at protests.
Under the order, officers will not “disrupt, intimidate, harass, or discriminate against, or arrest,” “make comments about the views,” “use force as punishment or retaliation,” “hinder or prevent members of the public from recording Department members,” or “interrogate or otherwise question participants concerning their views” during First Amendment demonstrations, except in minimal circumstances.
However, officers are allowed to order dispersal, make arrests, and use pepper spray certain conditions arise.
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