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Was Adam Toledo's nickname 'Lil Homicide'? Truth behind wild rumors about 13-year-old killed in police shooting

'Even if their nickname was allegedly 'Lil Homicide,' you have still knowingly shot an unarmed child,' a user tweeted

After the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) released the bodycam footage of 13-year-old Adam Toledo being fatally shot by a police officer, it was discovered that the teenager had his hands up before the shot was fired. Also, the police's claim of Adam's shooting being an 'armed confrontation' was countered as Adam appears unarmed in the video footage. 

Meanwhile, some Twitter users and media publications are pointing out that Adam Toledo's friends are offering their tributes to him calling him names like 'Lil' Homicide' and 'Bvby Diablo'. It is being speculated that these names indicate the teenager's involvement with a gang. In a tweet thread on Friday, April 15, 2021, journalist Andy Ngo wrote, "Tributes to deceased armed teen Adam Toledo by his friends refer to him by his gang names, "Lil' Homicide" and "Bvby Diablo."

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Was Adam Toledo part of a gang?

A series of photos and screenshots shared by Andy Ngo shows the tributes dedicated to Adam Toledo by his friends, where they often refer t to him as 'Lil' Homicide' or 'Bvby Diablo'. "Rest In Peace. Lil Homicide, 5.26.07 - 3.29.2021," says a tribute painting on a t-shirt. Another photo, which shows Adam clicking a mirror selfie, goes with the captions, "Dam wtf my (N-word) B.I.P bvby Diablo f**k that pigs", "Long live bvby Diablo Fto 50k" and "F**k 12 b**** a** ***** gunned down a kid, Long live bvby Diablo". 

A photo shared by a certain Jose Arriaga shows Adam Toledo posing in the streets, and goes with the caption "Rest In Peace bvby diablo". The photo was also updated with the frame of a gun. A series of photos from Adam's funeral was also shared with the caption, "buhh it's like dis 5eva. until we meet again my boy....LIL HOMICIDE GANG TILL MY HEART STOPS...IMissYouu nn ILoveYouu...long live da real.. #justiceforadamtoledo, Sincerely, Jesse."

A section of Twitter users explicitly pointed out that a teenager named 'Lil Homicide' might have been at the risk of violating justice or committing crimes. "You're right leftists, Lil Homicide sounds like the nickname of a perfectly innocent guy who would obey gun control laws in Chicago," sarcastically tweeted author Tim Young.

"Adam Toledo was missing from his house for days. Where were his parents? His street name was a Lil Homicide. Where were his parents. 2:37 AM with a gun in his hand. Where were his parents? I don’t care about his age. He would’ve killed you if he had the chance," tweeted Conservative writer Carmine Sabia.

One user questioned his parenting, "Where were the adults in this 13 year old's life that leave him armed, unsupervised at 2-3 in the morning, with a 21 year old prohibited possessor? How did he get the gun or the nicknames "Bvby Diablo" & "Lil Homicide?"

Another wrote, "A child." Also known as "Lil Homicide." Passing no judgement on this case, but 13 year olds in this country are doing despicable things. "Child" is an excuse for none of them."

Around 2:30 am on March 29, Adam Toledo was pursued on foot by a police officer who responded to a call of shots being fired. Upon arrival, he found Adam and another suspect at the scene. While Adam was chased and fatally shot, the other person ran away from the police. He was identified as 21-year-old Ruben Roman Jr. of Edgewater, who had pleaded guilty to illegal gun possession in 2019 and was arrested in Evanston. He was later arrested and charged with a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. 

'You have still knowingly shot an unarmed child'

A major section of Twitter users is condemning those who are highlighting Adam Toledo's nickname trying to show the teenager's possible involvement with a gang. 

"Even if their nickname was allegedly “Lil Homicide,” you have still knowingly shot an unarmed child. Even if they ran, you have still knowingly shot an unarmed child. Even if it is 2 in the morning, you have still knowingly shot an unarmed child," a user tweeted. 

Another wrote, "This is ghoul shit. Every white boy on this website has had a screenname like "XxBloodKiller420xX" or some stupid shit like that when they were 13. Pretending that a 13 year old being called "Lil'Homicide" means they were some hardened killer is just apologia for child murder"

"So now you’re justifying the slaughter of a 13 year old child. Your cruelty knows no end," one user lashed out at journalist Andy Ngo.

Another user responded, "Get the f**k out of here with this lil homicide nonsense. I don't give a f**k what his nickname was. He was an unarmed CHILD and he was murdered in cold blood. Sincerely, 40 yr old white woman."