Interim Chicago police superintendent recommends firing officer who shot Adam Toledo
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Interim Chicago Police Superintendent Eric Carter has recommended the Chicago Police Board fire an officer blamed for the shooting death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo.
It's been two years since Adam Toledo was shot and killed by a police officer. Officer Eric Stillman had chased the 13-year-old into an alley in Little Village in March 2021.
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He fired a single shot into the boy's chest, a split second after Toledo dropped a handgun and raised his hands.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability initially recommended that Tillman be fired. However, former Superintendent David Brown disagreed, saying Tillman should receive a 5-day suspension. The Cook County state's attorney declined to press any criminal charges in the case.
Last fall, the Chicago Police Board's president said he supported a full disciplinary hearing for Stillman, but the police superintendent has to sign off on charges before that proceeding can take place.
Brown did not do that before leaving the job. Now, Carter has signed off on the charges against Tillman, which recommend his firing.
Carter stated that the officer violated several department policies including unlawful or unnecessary use of his firearm.
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The police board will hold hearings on Stillman's potential termination beginning May 1.
Stillman's attorney Tim Grace released a statement saying, "The Cook County State's Attorney's Office investigated this case and correctly concluded that the use of force by Officer Stillman was proper and within Illinois law. There is no reason or justification for the City of Chicago to have sought termination on this case. The members of the Chicago Police Department continue to work under amazingly difficult circumstances, yet still come to work each day to protect the citizens from the gun-wielding offenders who terrorize our City. The work of the men and women of the Chicago Police Department should not be ostracized but rather given the appropriate amount of appreciation that is deserved. Adam Toledo's death is a tragedy, but a tragedy nevertheless that was caused by the gang violence that is epidemic on our streets not by Officer Stillman. We now enter the next phase of Officer Stillman's long journey which is to try and separate him from the Chicago Police Department. It is not only a sad day for the police officers, and public safety but also to all Chicagoans. We look forward to presenting our case to the Police Board and believe his actions will be deemed justified."
READ MORE | Adam Toledo shooting: Calls for justice continue 1 year after teen fatally shot by CPD
The Toledo family issued a statement saying, "Firing Eric Stillman will not bring our Adam back... but will take us one step closer to Justice for Adam. This brave decision will send a much-needed message to the Chicago Police Department... that its officers must respect the sanctity of human life... and strictly follow CPD's policies and training while doing their job."
