CHICAGO – COPA, the agency charged with investigating shootings and allegations of serious misconduct involving Chicago police officers, has released video and other material from an incident in which officers shot an armed man in September.
According to a CPD report, officers were responding to a “person with a gun call” in the 7100 block of South Jeffery when they encountered a man matching the suspect’s description on September 16 around 10:50 p.m.
Police body cameras show what happened next: When police stopped to talk to the man, he ran into nearby lanes and was hit by a passing car. He got up and kept running. At least one shot, apparently fired by a police officer, is heard as the man gets to his feet, stumbles and then continues running.
Additional officers join the chase. Video shows the man emerging from between parked cars as he extends his arm and points what appears to be a firearm at an officer. The officer shoots the man, who is arrested moments later.
No injuries were reported from gunfire. Police said they recovered a loaded handgun with an extended magazine from the man, identified as 31-year-old Rakim Kendall.
Here is a compilation of the body camera footage of the two officers who fired during the incident. (You can watch the full videos and all related materials here.)
Kendall remains jailed as a threat to public safety on five counts of aggravated assault on peace officers and three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Court records show Kendall was placed on first-time gun offender probation for a weapons offense on September 10, just six days before he allegedly had another gun that he pointed at police.
COPA continues to investigate the use of force by officers and compliance with police rules.
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