Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday that she had seen multiple videos of the fatal police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, declining to give further details on the footage ahead of its release.
"It's multiple videos and I have now, yes, seen I think all of them," Lightfoot said at an unrelated news conference Wednesday morning.
Her comments came hours after Adam's family was shown video footage of the shooting on Tuesday night.
Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability's said Tuesday that based on the family's request, it would "not immediately release" the footage. On Wednesday, COPA said the video and other materials related to the shooting would be made public at an unspecified time on Thursday.
"Look, this is a difficult circumstance set of circumstances," Lightfoot said, hours before COPA announced the imminent release. "First and foremost, we have a family that is still incredibly in the throes of grief, a mom and father who have lost their son, siblings that have lost her brother, grandparents. So I want to be respectful of the family, but I also do think that something like a police-involved shooting, particularly under these circumstances, it's important for us to be transparent."
"We tried to be as transparent as we can. And we're gonna work with the family to move this process along. But I think we have to be respectful of them and move at their speed, and that's what we're endeavoring to do in balancing a range of different interests," she continued.
Lightfoot also said she would not offer her "own commentary" about the video, citing the independent investigations into the shooting.
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Immediately after the March 29 shooting, COPA initially said it would not publicly release body camera video of the shooting because of state law governing cases involving a juvenile, but reversed course under public pressure and said it would release the "troubling footage" once Adam's family was able to see it first.
"At the request of the Toledo family, today COPA will not immediately release video and other materials as the family continues to grieve their loss," COPA said Tuesday night, noting that the agency is "mandated to publicly release body camera footage no more than 60 days after a shooting."
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On Wednesday, COPA said it informed the Toledo family that materials would be released Thursday, noting it "has remained sensitive to the family’s grief and is carrying out this release in accordance with the City’s Video Release Policy."
"COPA’s core values of integrity and transparency are essential to building public trust, particularly in incidents related to an officer involved shooting, and we are unwavering in our commitment to uphold these values," COPA's statement reads.
The materials released will include body-worn footage, third-party video, OEMC transmissions, ShotSpotter recordings, Case Incident, Tactical Response and Arrest Reports, COPA said.
"COPA is committed to completing a full, thorough and objective investigation of the entire incident which includes not only the officer’s use of deadly force but also the actions of other involved officers leading up to and following the deadly shooting to determine whether each officers’ actions complied with Department policy directives and training," the statement concludes.
Attorneys for the Toledo family said Tuesday that the experience of watching the footage "was extremely difficult and heartbreaking for everyone present, and especially for Adam’s family."
“We want to thank COPA for giving the Toledo family the opportunity to review body camera video and other evidence before its public release," attorney Joel Hirschhorn said in a statement.
Hirschhorn said the family's legal team is continuing to conduct their own investigation into the shooting and meeting with representatives of the city, thanking members of the public for their respect as the family mourns.
On Wednesday, the family's attorneys called for reports of protests related to the shooting to "remain peaceful" to honor the boy's memory and "work constructively to promote reform."
The shooting took place in the early morning hours of March 29, according to police, who said officers responded to an alert of shots fired at 2:37 a.m. in the 2300 block of South Sawyer and saw two males in a nearby alley.
Both fled, according to police, who said officers chased them and one opened fire, shooting Adam in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene and a weapon was recovered, officials said.
NBC 5 has not independently verified the reports of the incident from police.
Prosecutors had described the events in the video over the weekend as a judge set bond at $150,000 for the 21-year-old man who was with the teen at the time of the fatal shooting.
Ruben Roman, who was represented by a public defender at a Cook County bond court hearing, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and child endangerment.
Prosecutors with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office said in court that video captured Roman firing shots before police responded to the scene. Prosecutors said an officer apprehended Roman, who dropped red gloves on the ground during his arrest that later tested positive for gunshot residue.
The other officer chased Toledo, repeatedly telling him to stop, and eventually Toledo stopped near a break in a wooden fence, prosecutors stated. Toledo, who was standing with his left side facing the officer and holding his hand to his right side, was ordered by the officer to show his hands, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney James Murphy said.
The officer told the teen to "drop it, drop it," as Toledo, with a gun in his right hand, turned toward the officer, prosecutors said. The officer opened fire, striking the teen once in the chest. The gun Toledo was holding landed a few feet away, prosecutors said.
The officer called for medical assistance and started performing chest compressions on Toledo, who died at the scene, authorities said.
The teen's right hand tested positive for gunshot residue, according to Murphy. Fired shell casings from near where Roman fired shots matched the 9-millimeter handgun that was recovered near Toledo, prosecutors said.
COPA is investigating the shooting and the officers involved have been placed on administrative duties for 30 days in line with Chicago Police Department policy.
Outrage has enveloped the city since the fatal police shooting, with the teen's family and supporters calling for the immediate release of police body camera video showing the encounter. CPD has canceled days off for officers as they prepare for possible demonstrations.
