Family members of a Chicago teen who police say killed himself during a chase said bodycam videos showing the incident are "inconclusive."
Attorney M. Stroth said the family of Steven Rosenthal met with Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson Monday afternoon to see the footage after they publicly questioned the report from police.
Stroth said the video was "inconclusive... we feel because you don't see the actual shooting."
The family plans to pursue an independent investigation and will be working with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability "to find the truth with respect to the death of Steve," he said.
Police reports and the Cook County Medical Examiner both ruled Rosenthal's death a suicide, but family members and residents aren’t convinced.
In the incident, police say that Rosenthal shot himself in the head during a pursuit, which started after police questioned him for allegedly possessing a firearm, and later died from his injuries.
Autopsy results released Saturday confirmed that report, but family members said eyewitnesses at the scene say police opened fire and killed Rosenthal.
On Sunday, residents marched on the hospital where they say Rosenthal’s body was being kept, demanding that it be released to his family. They also marched to police headquarters, and before dispersing said they would return every day until the department answers questions about the incident.
In response to calls for body camera footage and other evidence to be publicly released, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says that camera evidence and ballistics evidence indicate that no officer fired their gun during the incident.
Local
“The independent office of the Cook County Medical Examiner ruled this tragic death a suicide based on autopsy and physical evidence,” he said. “Suicide is a difficult and painful tragedy to process for anyone, and our deepest condolences go out to his entire family.”
The Chicago Office of Police Accountability also issued a statement, saying that they will release video within 60 days, as per department policy.
“There is body-worn footage, however, based on the city’s transparency policy, we will release video within 60 days, or at the earliest point that it does not jeopardize the integrity of our investigation,” COPA said.
Johnson said Monday the footage would be released "when feasibly and lawfully we're able to," noting that the department planned to show the family first.
"Any time you have a juvenile involved in releasing video it’s different," he said. "That was a tragic incident. Any time you have a loss of life in the city, especially under circumstances like that, it’s difficult. I understand their anguish, that’s not easy. Losing a loved one under any circumstances is difficult."
In the wake of the incident, the family is saying that Rosenthal was a good student who played sports, and that he never would have killed himself. They are calling for any video of the incident to be released, and for police to provide evidence that Rosenthal was carrying a gun.
