Video of Chicago police fatally shooting Anthony Alvarez late last month was released Wednesday, one day after his family viewed the footage they said left them.
Based upon information obtained in the early stages of the investigation, COPA has recommended the Chicago Police Officer who discharged his weapon, fatally injuring Mr. Alvarez, be relieved of police powers during the pendency of this investigation, COPA said.
The officer was placed on administrative duties for 30 days immediately after the shooting in accordance with Chicago Police Department protocol.
When asked about COPA s recommendation at a news conference following the video release on Wednesday, Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said, I have not heard that from COPA. You have information I don t have.
The tactical response report COPA released along with the video and other materials identified the officer who fired the shots as Evan Solano, a 29-year-old member of the department since June 2015 who is assigned to the 16th District on the Northwest Side.
Chicago police fatally shot Anthony Alvarez, 22, in the back as he fled
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability has recommended the Chicago police officer who discharged his weapon be relieved of duty.
Anthony Alvarez as he ran away.
USA Today reported Alvarez’s back was facing the officer, who fired multiple bullets. In the video, an officer gets out of his car, runs through a neighborhood, and shouts, “Drop the gun! Drop the gun!” while chasing Alvarez. About a second later, five gunshots are heard, Alvarez is seen on the ground, and he appears to drop a gun.
“Why are you shooting me?” Alvarez asked the officer, according to the news outlet.
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The Alvarez case has been largely eclipsed by the police killing two days earlier of thirteen-year-old Adam Toledo, an incident that commanded national attention. That may change after COPA releases video from their investigation into Alvarez’s death. (Shutterstock)
By Madison Muller, Jamie Kalven and Invisible Institute, South Side Weekly:
After an anguished month of seeking answers in vain, the family of Anthony Alvarez will learn details about what happened on March 31 when a Chicago police officer fatally shot the twenty-two-year-old. They are to meet with representatives of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) who will show them body camera footage of the incident. Soon after, perhaps as early as Wednesday morning, COPA will publicly release the video.
USA TODAY
CHICAGO – Footage released Wednesday of the fatal police shooting of 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez showed Alvarez running away from police with his back facing the officer who fired multiple times at him.
Chicago s Civilian Office of Police Accountability recommended the officer who shot Alvarez be relieved of police powers during the investigation, according to a statement released along with the footage. The officer involved in the late March shooting has been placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days, police said.
An officer gets out of his car, runs through a neighborhood and shouts, Drop the gun! Drop the gun! while chasing Alvarez, according to body camera footage. About a second later, five gunshots are heard, and Alvarez is seen on the ground, moaning. Alvarez appears to drop a gun after the shots are fired and he falls to the ground.