Mother Of 13-Year-Old Killed By Police Wants Video Released Of Her 'Baby's' Shooting

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.wbez.org/stories/mother-of-13-year-old-killed-by-police-wants-video-released-of-her-babys-shooting/d40fcd5c-284a-4032-b1e3-e29b1e154af7

The mother of a 13-year-old boy fatally shot by Chicago Police is calling for the video of her son’s shooting to be released and for the truth about her son’s death.

“I just want to know what really happened to my baby,” Elizabeth Toledo said before choking back a sob during an emotional press conference Friday afternoon.

Police shot Adam Toledo in the Little Village community in the early hours of Monday morning. They say it followed an “armed confrontation.”

Toledo’s lawyer, Adeena J. Weiss-Ortiz, relayed information from Toledo to reporters, saying the boy still played with Hot Wheels and Legos in his Little Village home, and had no criminal history. She said the police have told her nothing about how her son died.

[snowybirdie]

1. Lets let this play out

Her baby was on the streets at 2a.m. Could be awful or could be justified. I'm withholding judgement for now.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. Cops shooting 13-year-olds is bullshit.

[Sympthsical]

4. Little Village?

I'd wait for the full story. That is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Chicago. I'm a native. You wouldn't catch me driving through there in the middle of the night, much less walking around.

We don't know any details yet, which is a little suspect. Let's get the story, let's get some body cam/video footage. It's an odd story to begin with. A 13 year old who's "still playing with hot wheels" running around that area at 2 AM is very, very strange. That is not the kind of neighborhood you just wander around in, much less at that hour.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. A statement from a Little Village community organization:

https://www.facebook.com/449549345620097/posts/890623724845988/?d=n

Statement from the Increase the Peace, Little Village (ITP-LV) Chapter:
Many of us learned that on Monday morning, officers from the Chicago Police Department shot and killed a 13-year-old boy. Yesterday, the world learned that the 13-year-old’s name was Adam Toledo. We, members of Increase the Peace, especially the Little Village chapter, mourn the loss of a child at the hands of CPD. We learned that Adam’s family was NOT notified about Adam’s death until two days after it happened. We are angry, upset, in fear, in grief, and unsatisfied with the lack of answers. We send our deepest condolences to Adam’s family and loved ones, and hope that Adam’s mother, Elizabeth, receives the answers and justice that she deserves and is yearning for.

As more information is released, including the body cam footage, we are also saddened to learn that Adam’s life is called into question. Statements like, “well, what was he doing out late at night?” For example, replicate the idea that the victim is responsible for what happened to them. In doing so, Adam’s fear and act of running that night has become weaponized against him. He is not being afforded the privilege of child innocence by police. We urge community members from Little Village and other neighborhoods to stand in solidarity and denounce any claims that aim to tarnish Adam’s existence. Historically, any Black or Brown or Latinx person is criminalized and considered a gang member before anything else. When we rally, organize, and shout “Increase the Peace!” we are not only referring to gun violence proliferated by historically engineered gang conflict. We also refer to police violence. We, the ITP-Little Village chapter, urge everyone not to lose sight of the historical police violence in our neighborhoods. Remember, WE KEEP US SAFE.

There will be a time when the conditions that led and facilitated the tragic loss of Adam Toledo will not occur anymore. Until then, we invite folks to be in solidarity with each other by learning more about policing in our Chicago neighborhoods, and work towards a world where peace is increased, safety reimagined, and all life is affirmed.

If you would like to support the Toledo family as they organize Adam’s funeral services, please donate and share their GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/uhhas-adams-memorial-fund.

Yesterday our world stopped as we mourned. Today we continue mourning as we proceed with our organizing efforts. The struggle continues. Rest in peace, Adam Toledo. We love you regardless, forever.

[Sympthsical]

8. I'm saying wait and see

Of course, people are going to make it political.

As I said, I know that area. It's dangerous and gang-infested. You have a 13 year-old who apparently didn't go home for days, is out all night, and in the company of a 21 year-old at 2 AM in the morning. The police say there was a gun and took a picture. There is enough there to speculate. Was it the 21 year-old's gun, and maybe he gave it to the kid before running, figuring the law would go easier on a child? That was my first thought.

The fact of the matter is, we do not know. The body cam footage can't be released immediately because the child is a minor. There are procedures for that sort of thing.

There are definitely questions here. The obvious ones being - how was the family not informed until two days later? What was the environment of the incident? Was the alley dark? Was it lit? I've been down those alleys all my childhood. It's a row of garages with a narrow road between them. Some are incredibly lit. Some a dark and full of shadow. How well could the police see?

Once we have cam footage, we'll have a much better idea of what occurred.

But it's nonsense to say there aren't all kinds of questions here. And merely asking the common sense ones isn't laying responsibility on the kid. They're questions. He very well may be responsible. We can't know until we have some evidence. All we have are CPD statements, and well . . . . I want to see some evidence. It's the CPD.

[kacekwl]

3. He was also armed

and with a known gang member. Apparently snuck out of the house several times. A little more attention paid to the 13 year old might have been needed.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. His mother had reported him missing.

[greenjar_01]

5. They should absolutely release the video

Regardless of whether it involves a minor. Have mom sign a release and show everybody what we're dealing with here.