Boy, 13, is shot dead by Chicago cop after officers were called to reports of gunfire: Mayor Lori Lightfoot calls for the release of bodycam footage
A 13-year-old boy has been shot and killed by Chicago police, prompting Mayor Lori Lightfoot to call for the release of bodycam footage of the shooting.
Adam Toledo, 13, who dreamed of being a cop when he grew up, died of a gunshot wound to his chest early on Monday, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said.
Police said officers were dispatched to the Little Village neighborhood on the city's West Side shortly after 2am when ShotSpotter technology detected the sound of gunfire in the area.
'Officers observed two subjects in a nearby alley, one subject fled on foot' and the officers began chasing him, department spokesman Tom Ahern said.
The officers chased him into an alley behind Farragut Career Academy High School, where one officer shot him once in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene while another suspect, Ruben Roman, 21, was taken into custody.
Shortly after the shooting, police shared a photo of a handgun recovered at the scene, but the victim's age was not revealed until days later by the Medical Examiner’s office.
Howard Ludwig, a spokesman for the police department, said investigators are still trying to determine if the teen fired a gun at the officers before he was fatally shot.
Adam Toledo, 13, died of a gunshot wound to his chest early on Monday in what Chicago police called an 'armed confrontation'
Chicago Police said an officer was responding to a scene where gunfire had been detected when the officer shot Toledo
The boy´s mother, Elizabeth Toledo, said he was 'so full of life' as she was surrounded by family
The officers chased him into an alley behind Farragut Career Academy High School, where one officer shot him in the chest
Adam's mother Elizabeth, who lives a mile away from where the shooting took place, said: 'He was so full of life. They just took it away from him.'
Toledo said she last saw her son, who was in seventh grade, on Sunday during a memorial service for a relative who died a few years ago. She said he would sneak out at night while she was asleep.
'I want (to) know what happened,' she said regarding how her son died. 'I just want justice for my son. That´s all.'
She also told the Chicago Sun-Times: 'He wanted to be a cop when he grew up. And next thing you know, a cop took his life.'
Police said the other person who ran from police officers, Roman, of Chicago, was arrested on a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest.
Police said a weapon was recovered at the scene after the deadly shooting in the early hours of Monday
The shooting took place in an alley west of the 2300 block of South Sawyer Avenue, near the school
Toledo said she last saw her son, who was in seventh grade, on Sunday during a memorial
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the shooting and the officer or officers who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative duty for 30 days, both of which are routine in police shootings.
In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, COPA confirmed the details provided by the police department.
It also said the shooting was captured by a police body camera but that COPA is prohibited by law from releasing the video 'absent the issuance of a court order' because the teen who was shot was a minor.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot took to Twitter saying it is important video footage of the shooting be shown first to the boy´s family and then the public as quickly as possible.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot called for the release of bodycam footage from the incident on Thursday
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot responded to the shooting in a statement posted to Twitter
'As a mother of a 13-year-old myself, I can only imagine the incredible pain this boy's parents are experiencing at this moment. My heart goes out to them,' Lightfoot tweeted.
'The facts and the circumstances around this case are under investigation, but we must ask ourselves how our social safety net failed this boy leading up to the tragic events in the early hours of Monday morning.'
She continued: 'While the investigation is ongoing it is critically important that COPA release relevant videos first to the family, and then to the public, as quickly as possible, with appropriate protections, given his age.'
'Because his family and the public will undoubtedly have many questions, we must release any relevant videos as soon as possible. Recognizing that these are the most complex cases that COPA investigates, transparency and speed are crucial,' she added.
Police Superintendent David Brown said the department was 'adamantly' calling for the release of the body camera video
In a statement issued Thursday offering his condolences to the teen's family, Police Superintendent David Brown, whose department has struggled to regain public trust in many Chicago neighborhoods, said the department was 'adamantly' calling for the release of the body camera video.
Brown said the fatal shooting is an example of several recent violent crimes in the city involving juveniles, including several carjackings.
There has also been a spike in juveniles aged 17 and under being arrested for first-degree murder, with 36 arrested for homicide in 2020, a 35 per cent increase on 2019.
'My greatest fear as the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department has been a deadly encounter between one of our own and a juvenile especially given the recent rise in violent crimes involving juveniles throughout our city,' Brown said.
'Unfortunately, this fear became a reality earlier this week. Any loss of life is tragic, especially when it involves youth.'
He continued: 'The split-second decision to use deadly force is extremely difficult for any officer, and is always a heavy burden to bear for officers involved in fatal shooting incidents.
'We fully support the investigation being conducted by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) and adamantly call for the release of any and all video, including body-worn camera footage, related to the incident, as permitted by laws pertaining to juveniles.'
COPA later revised its statement according to Chicago CBS Local, saying: 'COPA is currently making every effort and researching all legal avenues that will allow for the public release of all video materials which capture the tragic fatal shooting of 13 year old Adam Toledo.
'COPA's commitment to transparency remains unwavering, one of our core values and paramount to our ability to build and sustain trust.
'The death of 13 year old Adam Toledo is tragic and we have all been saddened by this incident. COPA has been in contact with the Toledo family and will provide the family a review of all video materials.
'We are committed to releasing video materials to the extent legally possible and as a part of our commitment to transparency and building public trust.'
