Lawsuit Claims Police Shot 13-Year-Old In The Back With His Hands Up

CHICAGO — The mother of a 13-year-old boy shot and wounded by police while running away from a stolen car filed a federal lawsuit that alleges their son was struck by a bullet in the back while he had his hands up in the 800 block of North Cicero, according to court papers.

The boy, who is identified as "A.G." in the complaint, was unarmed with his hands up when a Chicago police officer shot him "recklessly, callously, and wantonly – right through his back."

The boy is currently hospitalized with a bullet lodged in his body and spinal cord injuries. His family is waiting to hear if he will ever walk again, according to the lawsuit.

The complaint calls the boy's shooting earlier this month a "a story all too familiar: a Black or Brown male shot by a CPD officer" and blames the police department for not implementing reforms to combat the police departments "long sordid history of using excessive force."

The officer who shot the boy, according to the complaint, also violated the police department's foot-pursuit policy, the lawsuit states.

The 13-year-old was in a car that police say was involved in an earlier carjacking, authorities have said. The boy ran from the car as officers curbed the vehicle and was shot near a gas station.

The lawsuit said witnesses reported the boy complied with officers' commands that he put his hands up with intent on surrendering to police. That's when the officer shot the boy, who was unarmed, according to the complaint.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability officials investigating the shooting have not yet released video of the shooting incident. The officer involved in the shooting has been assigned to non-policing duties pending the COPA investigation.