New footage released this week by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability shows an off-duty Chicago Police officer shooting an unarmed autistic man whom he claimed had been a threat to his life.
Local news station ABC 7 Chicago reports that the video, which was filmed in 2017, shows Sgt. Khalil Muhammad shooting and wounding 18-year-old Ricardo Hayes, who was standing on the sidewalk as the off-duty officer approached in his truck.
The video shows Hayes walking down the street and then stopping as Muhammad drives his truck up to where he's standing and then stops. At this point, Hayes takes three steps toward Muhammad's vehicle before the officer fires two shots at him, hitting him in the chest and arm.
Hayes then proceeds to try to flee before he falls down and starts moaning loudly. Muhammad then calls 911 and asks for the dispatcher to send both police and an ambulance to the scene.
When asked what happened, Muhammed replies that Hayes looked as though he was about to pull a gun on him, despite the fact that the autistic teenager was unarmed.
Gabriel Hardy, an attorney for Ricky Hayes, tells ABC 7 Chicago that the video footage shows that Muhammad's claims to have been in danger are completely without merit.
"Ricky wasn't doing anything wrong," he said. "He wasn't breaking any laws. He wasn't armed. He didn't initiate contact with this officer."
Watch the video below.