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Adam Toledo death: Bodycam footage shows 13-year-old Chicago boy had his hands up when cops shot him dead

'He was walking in the street and he was shot unarmed,' said the Toledo family lawyer Adeena Weiss-Ortiz

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: A recently released bodycam footage by the Chicago Police Department reveals that 13-year-old slain teenager Adam Toledo had his hands up before he was fatally shot by a police officer. Around 2:30 am on Monday, March 29, 2021, a police officer pursued the teenage boy by foot in an alley in 2300 Block of South Sawyer. A resident of Little Village in Cook County, Adam was shot during an 'armed confrontation' with the police, as substantiated by a photo of a firearm at the scene released later by the CPD.

However, the bodycam footage did not show any weapon on Adam and his hands appeared empty. According to the police, the officers were responding to a call of shots fired when they spotted 'two males in a nearby alley'. Police are saying one of the suspects was armed and fled, after which he was hit in the chest by the police officer, reported TMZ. 

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What does the bodycam footage show?

Initially, the police stated that they would not be releasing the bodycam footage according to policy since the victim was below 18 years of age. However, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) announced in an elaborate statement on Friday that they will release the bodycam video footage, reported ABC7. 

"COPA has determined that certain provisions of state law intended to protect the confidentiality of juvenile records do not prohibit the agency's release of material related to its investigation of a Chicago Police Officer's fatal shooting of 13-year old Adam Toledo. COPA's General Counsel concluded that the Juvenile Court Act does not bar publication of the body worn and third-party video camera footage the agency has obtained to date. COPA will therefore follow established City policy, which requires public posting of material at the earliest point possible but no later than 60 days after the incident. COPA is currently working with the Toledo family and their representative to arrange for a review of the troubling video footage. Again our condolences are with the Toledo family during this challenging time."

The video was ultimately released by the police which shows the responding officer running after Adam, as he yells, "Show me your f**king hands." He also can be heard saying something like "stop it" or "drop it", as Adam stops and puts his hands up. The officer then fires a single shot at Adam within a moment, as he can be seen falling to the ground and the officer rushing to check on him. Adam was reportedly hit in the chest. He was later pronounced "deceased on scene".

"Adam was a good kid. He had no criminal history, he went to Gary Elementary School. He shared time with his four siblings and all we know is that he was shot," shared the Toledo family attorney Adeena Weiss-Ortiz. She added, "I don't think it matters whether Adam is a choir boy, whether he is involved in some other untoward activity — the fact of the matter is that he was walking in the street and he was shot unarmed," as reported by The Recount. 

'His family deserves justice'

Ever since the bodycam footage of the incident emerged, Twitter users have erupted in protests against police brutality that cost the life of a teenager like Adam Toledo. "Adam Toledo was just 13 years old. He was a child. This is heartbreaking. He deserves justice. His family deserves justice," New York senator Chuck Schumer tweeted. 

"Adam Toledo was 13-years-old. He complied and had his hands up. Chicago police killed him with a shot to the chest and then lied that he posed an imminent threat. The Toledo family deserves justice and accountability," wrote Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro.

"Adam Toledo was the age of my oldest daughter. My world. My riding partner. My baby. That’s all I can think about right now. He was 13," tweeted Charles Booker. 

Columnist Emily L. Hauser said, "Everyone who ever says "you should just comply" needs to understand that Adam Toledo was shot in the chest within two seconds of complying."