Bodycam video of Chicago police shooting 13-year-old to be released Thursday

Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) will release bodycam footage on Thursday of a March incident in which police fatally shot a 13-year-old boy who police say ran from officers while holding a handgun.

COPA said in a news release that, along with bodycam footage, other materials surrounding the fatal shooting of Adam Toledo will be released Thursday including “3rd party video, OEMC transmissions, ShotSpotter recordings, Case Incident, Tactical Response and Arrest Reports.”

“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 Department policy directives and training,” said the civilian review board.

Multiple news sources indicated that the city was bracing for protests in response to the footage being released. A small group reportedly gathered Wednesday evening, demanding to know whether Toledo was holding a gun when he was fatally shot by the officer.

Toledo’s family urged protesters to remain peaceful in a statement to The Associated Press.

“We have heard reports in the media that more protests are planned today, and while we have no direct knowledge of such events, we pray that for the sake of our city, people remain peaceful to honor Adam’s memory and work constructively to promote reform,” read the statement.

Adam’s family reportedly viewed the video of the encounter in which he was killed on Tuesday, according to ABC 7, and attorneys for the family called the experience “extremely difficult and heartbreaking for everyone present, especially Adam’s family.”

The release of videos and other evidence by the civilian review board will come amid the ongoing trial of Derek Chauvin, the officer charged with murdering George Floyd, in Minnesota as well as ongoing protests surrounding Sunday’s shooting of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, a city bordering Minneapolis.