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Report: Video shows 13-year-old had his hands up when he was fatally shot by a police officer

Adam Toledo, 13, was fatally shot by a police officer. Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability released videos of the shooting

By Herb Scribner Herb Scribnerhscribner@deseretnews.com
SHARE Report: Video shows 13-year-old had his hands up when he was fatally shot by a police officer
In this Tuesday, April 6, 2021, file photo, Jacob Perea, 7, left and Juan Perea, 9, hold signs as they attend a news conference following the death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, who was shot by a Chicago Police officer at about 2 a.m. on March 29 in an alley.

In this Tuesday, April 6, 2021, file photo, Jacob Perea, 7, left and Juan Perea, 9, hold signs as they attend a news conference following the death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, who was shot by a Chicago Police officer at about 2 a.m. on March 29 in an alley.

Associated Press

Warning: The Deseret News did not link to the video footage of Adam Toledo’s death. If you find it on another news site, be warned the footage is graphic.

Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability released video footage and recordings related to the fatal shooting of Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old, according to BuzzFeed News.

  • Toledo’s death has sparked a number of protests in Chicago. More protests are expected in the wake of the video’s release.
  • Prosecutors originally said Toledo had a handgun in his hand at the time of the shooting. The video appears to show he did not have the gun in his hand when he was shot.

What the footage shows

The footage shows officers responding to a call of gunshots in the area. They chased Toledo and Ruben Roman, 21, who officials said fired the original gunshots, BuzzFeed News reports.

  • An officer tackled Roman. Another officer chased Toledo. He then asked Toledo to stop and show his hands.
  • “The boy is then seen with his hands raised as the officer fires one round, causing Toledo to fall backward to the ground in an opening along a fence. The officer then runs toward him and radios for an ambulance,” according to BuzzFeed News.
  • The video footage then reportedly shows the officers performing first aid on Toledo as he lies on the ground. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Chicago mayor reacts

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot responded to the video footage, according to NBC Chicago.

  • “I have seen those videos and let me just say that they are incredibly difficult to watch, particularly at the end,” Lightfoot said.
  • “These videos and these moments are never easy to bear witness to, regardless of the circumstances,” Lightfoot continued. “And what I’ve learned is that you need to brace yourself beforehand. Let yourself feel the pain and anguish and shock of these traumatic events to avoid becoming numb as you watch.”

Lightfoot said more needs to be done to help troubled youth in the city, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.

  • “Simply put, we failed Adam. And we cannot afford to fail one more young person in our city. ... We must do more to help children like Adam before they end up in encounters like this one,” the mayor said, per Chicago Sun-Times.
  • “Sometimes, the streets are every bit as seductive and powerful as a narcotic. Families do everything they can — moms, dads, grandparents — to love and support their children. But they’re fighting against powerful, powerful forces. We’ve got to give them the tools that they need to be able to support and keep their children from harm.”