CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Family members of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, who was shot and killed by Chicago police in what investigators call an "armed encounter" last month in Little Village, viewed video of the incident Tuesday with representatives of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. COPA said it would not "immediately" release the material publicly, per the family’s request.
The family and their lawyer were shown police body cam video and other materials at the office of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which is investigating the incident.
“The experience was extremely difficult and heartbreaking for everyone present and especially for Adam’s family,” attorneys representing the Toledo family said in a statement Tuesday.
Prosecutors said it was 21-year-old Ruben Roman who fired gunshots that brought officers to the area near 24th and Sawyer early on the morning of March 29. But prosecutors said when officers arrived, it was 13-year-old Adam who was holding the gun when the teen was shot and killed after refusing to drop it.
Roman has been charged with several felonies, including child endangerment, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and reckless discharge of a firearm for his actions that, prosecutors said, led to Toledo’s death.
“If [Roman] does not bring [Adam] with him at 2:30 in the morning, if he doesn’t bring his gun with him while on gun offender probation, if he doesn’t shoot that gun seven or eight times on a city street with [Adam] standing right next to him...and then fleeing with that gun, none of this would have happened,” Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said Saturday at a bail hearing for 21-year-old Ruben Roman.
According to the Sun-Times, prosecutors said nearby surveillance video captured Roman firing shots early on the morning of March 29 while Adam stood next to him at 24th Street and Sawyer Avenue.
Murphy said after firing the shots, Roman ran north with Adam on Sawyer and ducked into an alley near 23rd Street, where officers spotted them about a minute later.
According to Murphy, an officer took down Roman and a pair of gloves were knocked loose that were later found to have gunshot residue on them.
Another officer chased Adam, who eventually stopped in the alley, Murphy said, citing the officer’s body cam footage. The officer repeatedly told Adam to “drop it,” Murphy said.
When Adam, who allegedly had Roman's gun in his right hand, turned toward the officer, the officer shot him in the chest. Murphy said body cam footage showed the officer called to an ambulance and performed chest compressions, but Adam was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.
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The family and their lawyer left the COPA office without taking with reporters gathered outside, but COPA released a statement via Twitter saying the video and other materials reviewed by the family would not be released to the public immediately.
"At the request of the Toledo family, today COPA will not immediately release video and other materials as the family continues to grieve their loss. COPA has advised family representatives that, while it is acutely sensitive to the family’s grief and their desire to avoid public release of materials related to Adam’s tragic death, COPA is mandated to comply with the City’s Video Release Policy,” COPA said in the statement.
COPA said it’s in the “very early” stages of the investigation, and that interviews of witnesses, civilians, and police officers are ongoing. Investigators have obtained police reports, ShotSpotter, OEMC transmission and 911 call, audio recordings and other evidence, according to the statement.
“COPA is committed to completing a full, thorough and objective investigation of the entire incident which includes not only the officer’s use of deadly force but also the actions of other involved officers leading up to and following the deadly shooting to determine whether each officers’ actions complied with the Department policy directives and training,” the statement said.
Attorneys representing the Toledo family said in the statement they are conducting their own investigation as they “seek justice for Adam and his family.”
“We are meeting with representatives of the City of Chicago and will have no further comment on the facts in this case at this time,” the lawyer’s statement said.
The attorneys said they “want to thank COPA for giving the Toledo family the opportunity to review body camera video and other evidence before its public release,” and expressed “the family’s deep appreciation for the grace and respect that the community, Chicago authorities, and the media have shown for their suffering as they mourn the loss of their child.”
They requested respect for the family’s privacy and also thanked members of the Latino community for remaining peaceful in protests.
“Adam’s memory can best be honored by refraining from violence and working constructively for reform,” the attorneys said.
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