Pressure builds to release video camera shooter of 13-year-old Adam Toledo in Chicago
Adam Toledo’s family will watch it whether he is released or not.
Video will be important for air purification.
On Monday morning, police faced a SpotShotter warning of how often they were shot in the alley. An eye-catching video shows the police getting up and going out, but the next video is only captured on police body cameras.
Police said Toledo and a 21-year-old man were in the pit. According to COPA, the two ran after police on foot.
The man, identified by police as Ruben Roman Jr., 21, of Chicago, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.
But the teenager was shot. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office said it was one bullet in the chest.
In the first part of the investigation, a Chicago police spokesman posted on Twitter a photo of a police gun that he said was found at the scene that night.
But police never said the person who shot him was 13 years old. Instead, the details were released three days later by COPA and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
CBS Chicago says it was only then that tweets from Superintendent David Brown spoke about the young victim. In a statement, Brown said, “We fully support the investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), and strongly urge the release of any video and all, including camera footage, related to the incident, as permitted by laws pertaining to children.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot went on to say, “Because her family and community will no doubt have a lot of questions, we have to release any relevant videos as soon as possible. Realizing that these are the most serious cases being investigated by COPA, transparency and speed are important.”
He also wrote on Twitter, “As the mother of a 13-year-old child, I can only imagine the incredible pain the parents’ parents felt at this time. I feel sorry for them.
“The facts and circumstances of the case are being investigated, but we have to ask ourselves how our social security network failed at this boy which led to tragic incidents on Monday morning.
“While the investigation is ongoing it is very important that COPA releases the appropriate videos first to the family, and then to the public, as soon as possible, with due protection, given his age.”
Neither COPA nor the CPD said whether Toledo had a firearm, pointed it at police or fired. But police said the officer feared for his safety.
COPA said it was working with all legal means to get the video released, but youth laws forbid it.
Toldeo’s family has set up a GoFundMe account to pay for his funeral. As of Friday morning, they had raised $ 9,000 in their $ 15,000 goals.