A lawyer for the Chicago police officer who shot 13-year-old Adam Toledo says that it’s “amazing and disheartening” that no one has asked how his client is doing.
A police report released on Thursday identified the officer as Eric Stillman, 34.
Stillman’s attorney said in a statement to The Daily Beast that his client did the right thing since “prior attempts to deescalate and gain compliance with all of the officers [sic] lawful orders had failed.”
“What is amazing and disheartening is that very few have asked about the welfare of the officer. Specifically there is very little interest in the wellbeing of the officer and the impact experienced by the officer who was required to use deadly force in the line of duty,” Stillman’s attorney said. “The officer involved has served his country and his city with honor and deserves our support.”
Police initially claimed that the March 29 incident that led to Toledo’s death was an armed confrontation. But bodycam footage released on Thursday shows the teen with both of his hands in the air, in a clear surrender, when he was shot.
The footage doesn’t clearly show a gun in Toledo’s hand, but the officer yells “drop it” twice before shooting Toledo once in the chest, according to The Hill. A weapon was also not visible on the ground as other officers arrive and begin CPR.
A gun was later recovered several feet from Toledo after his death.