Family Views Body Cam Footage Of Police Shooting That Killed Anthony Alvarez In Portage Park, Say He Was Shot As He Was Running Away
CHICAGO (CBS) -- In just a matter of hours, video showing Chicago Police shooting and killing Anthony Alvarez in Portage Park will be released to the public.
On Tuesday night, Alvarez's went to the headquarters of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, 1615 W. Chicago Ave., for a chance to see the video first.
As CBS 2's Charlie De Mar reported, the family and their attorney spoke after viewing the body cam video. They did not go into great detail of what they saw, but said one thing is clear - that Chicago Police shot and killed Alvarez as he was running away.
Alvarez's family was emotional after they watched video and reviewed other evidence showing the 22-year-old getting shot by a Chicago Police officer on Wednesday, March 31. He later died.
"I want more answers," Alvarez's mother, Veronica, said through interpreter Isai Adame. "The videos I saw don't explain what I saw in the morgue."
Alvarez's mother, other relatives, and their attorney, Todd Pugh, spent about two hours reviewing evidence inside the COPA offices.
Outside, a handful of people rallied in support of the Alvarez family - and the public release of the video.
"As his mother indicated already, it has really left us with more questions than answers - but I know what I saw, and I saw a Chicago Police officer shoot their son as he ran away from them," Pugh said.
Alvarez was shot and killed early on Wednesday, March 31 in the 5200 block of West Eddy Street in the Portage Park neighborhood, right near his house. Police said they had been pursuing him beginning around the corner in the 3500 block of North Laramie Avenue, and said he took out a gun.
It is unclear how many times or where he was shot.
Police tweeted a photo of what they said was a gun that belonged to Alvarez on the grass.
"It was incredibly difficult," Pugh said. "It was an absolutely chilling scene."
"I want justice for Anthony," Alvarez's mother added through the interpreter. "I want to know why they were running after him."
It is unclear if Alvarez ever pointed or directed a gun toward officers.
It is also important to note that Alvarez - just like 13-year-old Adam Toledo two days earlier - was shot and killed during a foot chase with police.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the CPD foot-chase policy needs to be overhauled, but there has been no timeline for that.
