Family Of Slain 13-Year-Old Views Video Of Fatal Police Shooting

CHICAGO — The parents of Adam Toledo viewed body camera video of the night a police officer shot and killed their 13-year-old son March 29 in Little Village.

"We met this evening with Adam Toledo's parents and representatives of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability to view the police body camera video and other evidence pertaining to the March 29 police shooting of 13-year-old Adam," lawyers for the Toledo family said in a statement.

"The experience 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."

Joel Hirschhorn, an attorney representing the Toledo family, said in a statement that lawyers plan to conduct an independent investigation to "seek justice for Adam and his family."

COPA officials said the bodycam video won't be immediately released, at the Toledo family's request, "as the family continues to grieve their loss."

"COPA has advised family representatives that, while it is acutely sensitive to the family’s grief and their desire to avoid public release of materials related to Adam’s tragic death, COPA is mandated to comply with the city's video release policy," COPA officials said in a statement.

The city's policy requires the public release video of shootings involving police within 60 days of an incident.

COPA investigators are interviewing witnesses and reviewing police reports and other evidence as part of an investigation not only of a police 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 officer's actions complied with Department policy directives and training."

Attorneys for the Toledo family said they are "meeting with representatives of the city of Chicago and will have no further comment on the facts in the case at this time."

“We do, however, want to take this opportunity to express the family’s deep appreciation for the grace and respect that the community, Chicago authorities and the media have shown for their suffering as they mourn the loss of their child,” Toledo family attorneys said in a statement.