Video of Fatal Chicago Police Shooting of Knife-Wielding Man Released
Data Unfolds
Body camera footage of the police shooting of Timothy Glaze, 58, was released on Tuesday.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability released body camera video of the fatal police shooting of a man who had a knife as he approached officers inside a Little Village apartment building last month.
Chicago police officers shot and killed Timothy Glaze, 58, on Jan. 3 at the Albany Terrace Apartments, a Chicago Housing Authority complex for seniors, in the 3000 block of West 21st Place.
The video, released on Tuesday, appears to confirm the Chicago police narrative of how the shooting unfolded.
‘What’s going on?’
What we know:
Officers were called to the apartment building a little after 2 a.m. for a report of a domestic dispute involving a person with a knife on the sixth floor.
The body camera footage appears to show officers exiting an elevator onto the sixth floor of the building around 2:18 a.m., knocking on an open door and announcing their presence. A man dressed in a dark hoodie and baseball cap is then seen stepping in the doorway of the apartment.
One of the officers is heard asking, “What’s going on?”
The man responded, “Nothing.”
The man appeared to have a knife in his right hand and stepped toward police.
The officers stepped away from the man into the hallway as the man continued to approach them.
Within a matter of seconds, two officers fired several shots at the man who was hit and dropped to the floor.
Officers then approached the man, handcuffed him, called for an ambulance and began to render aid.
He later died.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the man as Timothy Glaze, of Cicero.
No officers were injured during the encounter. Police recovered a knife at the scene.
COPA released multiple videos of the shooting on its website. Warning: the images are disturbing.
‘Timothy was in crisis’
What they’re saying:
Shortly after the release of the video, Glaze’s family released a statement through a local organization reacting to the shooting.
“Timothy was a son, a brother, a friend, and a human being who deserved compassion and care, especially in his moment of mental distress. Instead, he was met with violence and brutality that took his life in the most horrific way imaginable. Timothy was in crisis when 911 was called, seeking help. We trusted that the police would respond with empathy, de-escalation, and the proper training to handle someone in mental duress. Instead, Timothy was shot 20 times. Twenty times. This is not protection. This is not service. This is a failure of the system that is supposed to keep us safe,” the family said.
The family insisted that Glaze was “not a threat. He was a person in need of care, and he was failed by those who were supposed to protect him. We demand answers. We demand accountability. We demand justice for Timothy.”
Vigil for Glaze
What’s next:
Local organizations and residents were scheduled to hold a press conference and rally later on Tuesday for the release of the video of the fatal shooting.
The Little Village Community Council and Union to End Slums were organizing the vigil, scheduled for 6 p.m. In an announcement, the organizers said they’re calling for “new policy for our senior citizens.”
It was unclear exactly what policies they would be demanding.
Conclusion
The release of the video has sparked outrage and demands for accountability from Glaze’s family and local organizations. The incident highlights the need for better training and de-escalation techniques for police officers when dealing with individuals in mental distress.
FAQs
Q: Who was the man killed in the police shooting?
A: Timothy Glaze, 58, of Cicero.
Q: What was the circumstances of the shooting?
A: Glaze was shot and killed by police after approaching them with a knife inside a Little Village apartment building.
Q: What is the reaction of Glaze’s family?
A: The family is demanding answers, accountability, and justice for Glaze, claiming that he was not a threat and was failed by the police who were supposed to protect him.