Chicago’s police accountability organization released Thursday dashcam footage of a fatal officer-involved shooting from September in which an officer is seen firing into the suspect’s vehicle when his leg becomes pinned between it and the squad car.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability posted several videos from the Northwest Side shooting, as well as dispatch and radio audio, on its public website.
Police say 19-year-old Juan Flores backed into one of the officers after a chase in the Hanson Park neighbourhood in the 2200 block of North Laramie Avenue on Sept. 10.
Officers were chasing Flores because they observed his vehicle driving erratically, a department press release said at the time.
An officer can be seen in the recently released footage being pinned between the squad car and the vehicle Flores was driving when the vehicle rapidly backs up and crashes into the police car. The officer is seen firing his weapon into the vehicle Flores was driving multiple times. He writhes in pain and bangs his hand on the hood of the police cruiser until it backs up, freeing him. He then falls to the ground.
The officer had “at least one broken leg,” and was out on a medical leave a Chicago Police Department spokesman said Thursday.
Flores was pronounced dead at the scene.
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The medical examiner’s office said Flores lived in the block where the shooting occurred.
COPA continues to investigate the shooting.
