It was Wednesday night when a Chicago police shooting and critically injured an unidentified 13-year-old suspect in a carjacking investigation.
Around 10:15 p.m., Chicago police were pursuing a stolen car on the city’s West Side when a teenage boy jumped out and ran to a nearby gas station, evading capture.
At a press conference held by Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown on Thursday, the superintendent revealed that several officers pursued him and that one of them pulled a gun on the boy before shooting him.
A police officer said that “[the teen] turned toward the officers,” and Brown agreed. A single shot is fired by a police officer, striking the person once. He went on to say that the child had not fired a gun at the officers.
According to multiple eyewitnesses who arrived on the scene, the young man was shot with his hands up and no weapon. As one eyewitness told the outlet, “all of a sudden, I see a little guy wearing all black get out of the car and run toward the gas station, and his hands were up.
As soon as the cop approached the boy, he opened fire,” he recalls. The witness claimed that the boy “had no gun or anything.” ABC7 spoke with another witness who confirmed that the 13-year-old was unarmed.
Put your hands up, put your hands up!’ they yelled.” The youngster’s hands were raised in the air. There are others who have witnessed it. His hands were up, and I got it all on my phone. In his possession was no firearm,” the eyewitness claimed. The reason given for the shooting was, “They shot him without reason.”
The young man was treated on the scene and taken to a local hospital, where he is now being held by police in connection with the theft of the car.
According to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability in Chicago, no weapons were found at the scene. Both the officer’s body camera footage and third-party video are being reviewed by the office as part of its investigation into the incident and its lead-up.
During the police chase, a second suspect, who was driving the stolen silver 2008 Honda Accord, sped away and is still at large, according to Brown. After a while, the vehicle was found down the road.
In accordance with police reports, the Honda Accord was stolen on May 16 after its keys were left in the ignition. Following the theft of a Honda CRV the day before, a 3-year-old girl in the backseat of the Accord was used to steal another vehicle, a Honda Accord, the following day.
With the child still in the Honda CRV, the carjackers drove away with it, while its mother was dragged along and broke her collarbone. According to Brown, the car was found about 15 minutes later with the girl safely inside.
30 days of routine administrative duties for any officers involved in the incident as COPA investigates. Police officers’ use of force will be investigated thoroughly to see if they acted in accordance with department policy and training, according to a statement from COPA.