Adam Toledo
On March 29, 2021, 13-year-old Adam Toledo was shot dead by police. According to investigators, police officers from Chicago (Illinois) responded to the alarm at 2:35 and saw two suspects. One of them, 13-year-old Hispanic teenager Adam Toledo, who was allegedly armed, fled the scene and was shot by an officer during an “armed confrontation.”
Initially, the police insisted on the version that the teenager was armed, however, a recently published video clearly showed that the child was unarmed and stood with his hands raised when the police officer started shooting.
According to a press release from the Chicago City Police Department, the police officer who shot Adam was not only not arrested or fired, but also not suspended from his job. The policeman was transferred from operational work to performing “routine administrative duties”.
The incident caused public outrage and another wave of public protests against police brutality. The mother of the deceased demands the immediate disclosure of all the details of the incident.
In the end of the June 2021, Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) did not recommend that the officer who shot Adam Toledo, Eric Stillman, be relieved of his police powers.Last month, the department announced a policy that, among other things, prohibits foot pursuits for minor traffic violations, and bars officers from separating from partners if they can’t see the person they’re chasing or if the officer or the person is injured.
MASS MEDIA ABOUT THE CASE:
Thousands walked through the city’s Little Village neighborhood Sunday, demanding justice for 13-year-old Adam Toledo, who was shot and killed by Chicago police.
“We are not going to stand for it. That is why we are all here. It takes all of us,” said demonstrator Brayhan Martinez.
Adam’s mom said the family moved to Little Village in November. The boy attended Gary Elementary School on 31st Street.
“He was always happy. He loved animals. He was loving to all his siblings,” she said.
CASE STATUS:
The FBI initiative group requested clarifications on the current case from US President Joseph Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Attorney General Merrick Garland. The initiative group considers it important to combat police violence and, if necessary, can provide legal and informational assistance to the Toledo family.
