Adam Toledo Shooting: Video Of Chicago Cop Shooting 13-Year-Old Is Released

A Chicago agency that investigates allegations of police misconduct on Thursday released body camera footage showing the fatal police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo in the early hours of March 29.

The graphic video, from the body cam of the officer who fired the shot, was released by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. It shows Toledo and Ruben Roman, 21, standing on a street corner in the Little Village neighborhood. As gunshots are heard, the two start running away.

Chicago police officers responded to the scene after a ShotSpotter notification of several gunshots in the area. In the video, police officer Eric Stillman can be seen pulling into an alleyway. The footage shows him quickly exiting his squad vehicle and chasing the two down the alleyway. In the video, Stillman bumps into Roman, who police say fired the gun, but continues to pursue Toledo, who stops by a wooden fence. “Stop! Stop right f---ing now,” the officer yells. According to reports, the video shows that a firearm could briefly be seen in Toledo’s right hand.

Warning: graphic content

A moment later, Stillman hollers, “Show me your f---ing hands” and also shouts “Drop it” twice as Toledo begins moving away. As Toledo turns toward the officer, he puts both of his hands in the air. Several news outlets reported that the boy was holding nothing while raising his hands.

Toledo is then shot, clutches his chest and falls to the ground. The 13-year-old died on the scene.

The footage is one of 17 body camera videos published Thursday by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

In the police response report, officers listed Toledo as armed with a semiautomatic pistol that was “displayed, not used.” Stillman also noted that the victim’s behavior indicated an “imminent threat of battery with weapon” and said he shot the 13-year-old in an act of self-defense, according to USA Today.

The original police case incident report listed Toledo as being 18 to 25 years old.

The release of the body cam footage has raised concerns that it could lead to a new wave of unrest and violence in the city against the police department as activists say the shooting was an incident of abuse against communities of color. Toledo was Hispanic, and officer Stillman is white.

Prior to the release of the video, the Toledo family’s attorney issued a joint statement with Mayor Lori Lightfoot to call for a peaceful response.

"We acknowledge that the release of this video is the first step in the process toward the healing of the family, the community and our city. We understand that the release of this video will be incredibly painful and elicit an emotional response to all who view it, and we ask that people express themselves peacefully," the statement read.

The Chicago Police Department is currently bracing for protests amid a tense atmosphere as the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin continues, and while demonstrations take place over the death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright, who was shot by a police officer in Minneapolis on April 11.