Prosecutors say a young man who was fatally shot by a 13-year-old boy by a Chicago police officer last month fired rounds that caught the officer’s attention
CHICAGO – A young man who was fatally shot by a 13-year-old boy last month by a Chicago police officer fired rounds that caught the officer’s attention, prosecutors said Saturday.
Ruben Roman, 21, is seen on video firing the gun that police brought into the Little Village area on the night of March 29th. He and 13-year-old Adam Toledo fled the scene together, with officers following, prosecutors said.
Roman was arrested when another officer chased Toledo, who was holding a gun when the officer shot him, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said the gun matched the used cartridge cases found in the area where Roman fired.
‘If the accused does not bring the 13-year-old, if he does not bring his gun while on probation, if he does not bring that gun seven to eight times in a street with the victim standing at his length while firing the shots … none of that would have happened, ”Assistant State Attorney James Murphy told the court, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Roman’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender, Courtney Smallwood, strongly rejected the implication that Roman was responsible for Toledo’s death, pointing out that the gun was allegedly recovered from Toledo.
“The victim died at the Chicago police station, not my client,” she said, calling Toledo’s death “tragic.”
Roman was ordered to hold a $ 150,000 bond on charges of child intimidation and possession of weapons.
Lawyers for the Toledo family said they were present during the bond trial, but the statement released by the WeissOrtiz, PC firm, said it was unable to comment. The statement added that the firm has an appointment with the Civil Office for Police Responsibility next week to see the footage and other footage of the March 29 police shooting.