America is in shock again and the police are still at the center of the storm, this time for killing a 13-year-old Hispanic boy. Adam Toledo was shot in Chicago in what law enforcement called an “armed confrontation”.
The teenager had been missing for a few days from home and on the morning of March 29 an agent shot him to death after chasing him down an alley. As the anger of the Hispanic community for justice mounts, investigators announced the imminent release of the video of the shooting. The policeman involved, meanwhile, has been temporarily suspended from duty.
The mother of the 13-year-old slain, Elizabeth Toledo, said she wanted to “just know what really happened to my baby.” She and the rest of Adam’s family, however, have appealed for calm after reports that gangs in the city have been tasked with avenging the boy by shooting police cars.
“This news, if it is true, is extremely disturbing,” said Adeena Weiss Ortiz, who represents the Toledo, in a statement: “Let me be clear, the family condemns the violence against the police and all other members of the community.” “Nobody has anything to gain by inciting violence – said Elizabeth instead – Adam was a sweet and loving boy. He would not have wanted anyone else to be hurt or to die in his name. ‘
Police said officers were called at around 2.30am at an address in Little Village, a predominantly Latin American neighborhood in western Chicago, responding to reports of gunshots. When they arrived, Adam and another 21-year-old fled. The oldest was arrested, while an officer fired a shot at Adam hitting him in the chest, and the 13-year-old died instantly.
According to the first report of the agents, reported by some media, the teenager was armed with a gun. The authorities initially refused to release the video of the shooting because Adam was a minor, but then they changed their minds. Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot also immediately asked for the images of the agents’ body cameras to be made public. The Chicago police union said the footage will prove the shooting was justified: “The officer is shaken by the circumstances, but it was justified. The offender was fleeing the police with a weapon. Regardless of whether he was 13 years old. “