Bodycam Footage Shows 13-Year-Old Killed By Police Had His Hands Up When He Was Shot

The police killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo in Chicago has had the city on edge, despite attempts to place the blame for the shooting on the child himself. Now, bodycam footage paints a different, even more, horrific story — Adam had his hands in the air when he was shot.

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17 bodycam videos from police, four additional videos, and two 911 calls were among the recordings released to the public in conjunction with the shooting, which took place in the early morning hours of March 29.

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The most damning footage comes from Officer Eric Stillman’s bodycam, showing him chase Adam down an alley, yelling at him to stop. He finally does and turns around with his hands in the air. That’s when Stillman shot him one time in the chest.

Following the release of the video, there’s been debate over whether Adam had a gun in his hand when he raised them or if he dropped it before turning around.

“You see Mr. Toledo raise his hands and turn around,” attorney Anthony Burch told ABC7. “If you look at that and listen to what is going on, he is following the directions of the police officer and he’s shot.”

Adam’s death has infuriated his community, his city, and the entire country. The fact that he was ultimately killed while attempting to comply with police in a split-second decision now broadcast to the world has only made everything worse.

If police scream “put your hands up!” And you put your hands up, but they shoot you anyway, what’s the point of barking the order at all? #AdamToledo

— Joy-Ann Pro-Democracy & Masks Reid (@JoyAnnReid) April 16, 2021

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he was thirteeen years old. he was a kid. he was a fucking kid. and the cops killed him. he had his whole life ahead of him that he won’t be able to live because of the fucking police. (video below but graphic)
his hands were up. he listened. and it got him killed.#AdamToledo pic.twitter.com/RROs51JtoG

— azuley²³ ✦ (@lapislazuley) April 16, 2021

Cops gave Tamir Rice (12) only 1.7 sec before killing him

Cops gave Adam Toledo (13) only .8 sec before killing him

Cops gave Aiyana Jones (7) only 0 sec before killing her

But for the adult mass murderers of Parkland, Aurora, Atlanta, & Charleston—Cops arrested them all alive

— Qasim Rashid, Esq. قاسم رشید (@QasimRashid) April 16, 2021

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If it triggers you please take time off. This can’t be spoken over, for the past few months POC have been through hell for being born the way they are. I say months because it is only now that people are taking it seriously. Please do not forget this or sweep it under the rug.

— ً NSFR (@cncbells) April 16, 2021

I just keep thinking of this image. Why can police see SOME people with guns and not shoot them? But for others, they don’t have a gun, “feel threatened” and fire away?

And where are the “good apples” speaking out? #AdamToledo pic.twitter.com/VpfNhPI6Zt

— Chris Larson (@ChrisJLarson) April 16, 2021

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He was a boy. He was scared. He put his hands up. The cop shot him anyway.

These aren’t “accidents.” These murders are the logical consequence of a system intended to insulate the powerful from the powerless.

Don’t be surprised when it kills our *most* powerless. #AdamToledo

— Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) April 16, 2021

Chicago’s mayor, Lori Lightfoot, has publicly stated that she has seen “no evidence whatsoever that Adam Toledo shot at police,” but also called for residents of the city to remain peaceful in their response to this completely avoidable tragedy.

But people are tired of the police shooting first and asking questions later, and protests have continued through Chicago following the release of the footage.

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*First Published: April 16, 2021, 6:08 am