PEORIA, Ill. – Illinois State Police released bodycam and dashcam footage showing the moments officers shot a 15-year-old suspect wielding what appears to be a handgun, WMBD reported.
The footage, released March 25, shows Bloomington Police Department officers pleading with the teen to drop the firearm. An officer arriving at the scene is heard saying, “Put the gun down, don’t be stupid,” a command repeated multiple times as the situation escalated.
Video shows the suspect fleeing, then turning to face officers while appearing to reach into his waistband. He can be seen moving between two cars and eventually crouching behind one, holding the object. As officers surrounded him, they continued urging him to surrender.
In the exchange, the suspect is heard saying, “I am not going back to (expletive) jail,” while officers attempt to de-escalate, telling him they can work through the situation and he wouldn’t get into trouble.
As tension grew, the suspect yelled and refused to comply. When warned again that he would be shot if he didn’t drop the weapon, he responded,
“Oh, for real?”
Moments later, several shots were fired, striking a nearby car’s windshield.
Officers then moved in with medical equipment, but the suspect died at the scene, according to the report. Additional video recorded by a resident showed him holding an object in his right hand before the shooting.
Per state law, Illinois State Police are leading the investigation, which will be submitted to the McLean County State’s Attorney for review, according to the report.
