The attorney for Alfontish Cockerham’s family released surveillance video showing another Chicago police officer-involved shooting.
Cockerham, 23, was shot on June 20th by a police officer at 71st and Merrill on the city’s South Shore neighborhood. He died five days later from complications of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Cockerham’s death was ruled a homicide.
The video shows Cockerham and an officer running around a street corner out of the camera’s view. Cockerham then runs back into the frame, followed by the officer. The video then goes on to show Cockerham falling in front of a park car after being shot.
Officers had initially been investigating a report of a person with a gun near 71st and Merrill, according to police.
"The offender turned and pointed the weapon in the direction of the officers, and as a result of this action, an officer discharged his weapon, striking the offender,” according to a police statement. A .45 caliber gun was recovered at the scene.
Cockerham had been charged before his death with one count of aggravated assault of a peace officer with a weapon, and one count of unlawful use of a weapon.
Desiree Carter, 30, who identified herself as a cousin, told the Chicago Sun-Times in June that she doesn’t believe the police narrative.
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“He didn’t have no gun,” Carter said. “The police around here see him every day, they know him, that’s a lie… All he keeps on him is his headphones.”
“This incident is under investigation by IPRA and it would be inappropriate for us to comment," according to a statement by the city's Department of Law. "As we have made clear, the city needs a new policy that accounts for all of the issues that have been raised, and we’re working on that with the help of the task force.”
Cockerham’s family plans to file a lawsuit next week.
