CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) has released body-worn camera footage that shows exactly what led up to Chicago police officers shooting at a man during a stop on the city’s South Side in September 2024.
It happened on Sept. 16, 2024, when police officers were called to East 71st Street and South Jeffrey Boulevard for reports of a person with a gun. When they saw someone matching that description, officials said they tried to talk with him. The man, later identified as 31-year-old Rakim Kendall, ran into oncoming traffic and was hit by a car.
The newly released body camera footage shows a gunshot that apparently came from an officer, but Kendall kept running. After a short chase, video shows Kendall emerge from behind a parked car while holding out his arm and pointing what appears to be a gun. Video shared by COPA can be seen below.
CONTENT WARNING: The unedited video below shows the arrest of 31-year-old Rakim Kendall on Sept. 16, 2024. It contains graphic language and violence. All of COPA’s materials pertaining to this arrest may be found online.
After Kendall emerges from behind the parked car, an officer fires four shots. No one was struck. Less than one minute later, five officers are shown pinning Kendall up against a car before one of them tases him. They eventually get the 31-year-old onto the ground and arrest him.
Another officer is seen punching Kendall while he's being cuffed. It's not clear whether Kendall shot at police. Police did recover a loaded pistol with an extended magazine, for which Kendall did not have a valid Firearm Owner ID card or a concealed carry license.
Kendall was charged with multiple felonies, including aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated assault of a peace officer.
COPA is now investigating the officers’ use of force.
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