Judge Permits Release of Video from Controversial Chicago OIS that Sparked Lawsuit

The decision by U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman comes as the city reversed its position on Wednesday, saying it no longer opposed release of the video of the 2013 police shooting.

Car theft suspect Cedric Chatman was shot and killed by a Chicago officer during a foot pursuit in 2013.Car theft suspect Cedric Chatman was shot and killed by a Chicago officer during a foot pursuit in 2013.

A federal judge in Chicago on Thursday allowed for the release of a police shooting video of teenager Cedrick Chatman.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman comes as the city reversed its position on Wednesday, saying it no longer opposed release of the video of the 2013 police shooting.

Lawyers for Chatman’s family have sued two officers involved in the shooting and the city, and several times had tried to force the release of the video to the public, while the city– as recently as a Dec. 23 court filing– had argued the video should remain under seal ahead of a trial.

The court ruling comes a little over three years after Chicago Police Ofc. Kevin Fry fired four shots at Chatman as the teen bolted from a stolen car at the intersection of 75th and Jeffery the afternoon of Jan. 7, 2013. Fry and fellow officer Lou Toth both sprinted after the fleeing Chatman, though Toth did not fire a shot.

The officers said Chatman turned slightly toward them, and had a dark object in his hand, when Fry opened fire. The object turned out to be a black iPhone box, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Both Fry and Toth were cleared of wrongdoing in the shooting by the Independent Police Review Authority and State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

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