During White House press secretary Jen Psaki’s press briefing on Friday, she had been asked if Biden had watched the footage of the police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, and answered with a statement stating that “too often” law enforcement uses “unnecessary force” that results in the death of “Black and brown Americans.”
Psaki says police 'too often' use 'unnecessary force' in wake of Adam Toledo's death https://t.co/tn63zirWD9 pic.twitter.com/T6s1L0QwGi
— New York Post (@nypost) April 16, 2021
During the press briefing, one of the reporters asked Psaki whether the President had already watched the footage of the police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo.
Psaki said, “I have not spoken with him this morning. I expect I’ll see him later this morning. I will say for those of us who did watch that video, it is certainly chilling and a reminder that across the country, there are far too many communities where there is violence that is impacting that too often in this country.”
She added, “Law enforcement uses unnecessary force, too often resulting in the death of black and brown Americans.”
“The president, again, has repeatedly said that he believes we need police reform. That’s what he says he’s calling for Congress to send to his desk,” the Press secretary continued.
Psaki added, “There’s an independent investigation, as you well know, and certainly we’ll see that play itself through.”
However, the White House kept Biden away from the more progressive members of the Democratic party who made statements saying that the police are so corrupt that they must be dismantled.
Psaki was also asked about the call to end policing by Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich). The White House press secretary answered, “that is not the president’s view.”
Psaki answered and said that Biden believes in using laws, specifically the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which “can put many of these necessary reforms in place.”
The community in Chicago and family members of Toledo were reeling after the release of the police footage and other materials that were related to the shooting that happened in March of the boy, who was fatally wounded by a police officer who’s responding to a report of shots fired in the area.
Toledo appears to have his hands up in the video footage when he is shot one time in the chest.
Meanwhile, footage from a different angle provides a different view of the police chase, with Toledo appearing to reach behind the fence. The footage then later shows a gun on the ground alongside the fence, feet from where Toledo was shot.
On Thursday, the Chicago police review board released videos, 911 calls, and other materials related to the officer-involved fatal shooting of 13-year-old Adma Toledo while responding to a report of shots that were fired in late March.
The graphic footage from the police body camera shows a Chicago police officer pulling up to the location in the West Side on March 29, where he immediately encountered two people, one of whom appears to be Toledo, running away from the area.
BREAKING!
Adam Toledo Body Cam Footage! pic.twitter.com/M7qzXTHNSp
— SCUBA MIKE🤿 (@scuba2024) April 15, 2021
As the camera’s audio begins to play, the officer can be heard telling the boy to “stop” and “stop right f—— now.”
Toledo then stops for a moment before he turns toward the officer, at which point the cop tells him to, “Show me your f—— hand.”
Toledo appears to have his hands up when he is shot at one time. The officer calls over the radio for an ambulance and announces, “Shots fired.”
“Look at me, look at me. You alright? Where are you shot?” the officer asks him. The cop then radios: “Shots fired by the police.”
He continues asking Toledo where he is shot and telling him to “Stay with me.” Other officers can be heard saying, “Stay with me, buddy,” “Stay awake, bud. Come on, bud, stay awake,” and “Come on, big guy.”
