Family of black teen, 17, shot in the head while fleeing police sues Chicago and the officer

The mother of a black teenager who was fatally shot by a Chicago police officer during a traffic stop in February has filed a federal lawsuit. 

Chicago Police Officer Adolf Bolanos shot and killed 17-year-old Michael Elam Jr on February 16 near 2133 S. Keeler Avenue, according to a lawsuit filed by the teen’s mother – Alice Martin. 

It names Bolanos and the city of Chicago as defendants in the suit. 

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The lawsuit claims that at approximately 8.30pm, Elam was a passenger in a 2004 Acura that crashed into a fence when police tried to pull the vehicle over for a traffic violation. 

Bolanos was riding passenger in an unmarked CPD vehicle that did not have a dash camera on it.

Elam and the other occupants of the Acura attempted to flee the scene after crashing their car and Bolanos immediately began chasing after them.  

The lawsuit states that the officer failed to turn on his body camera and began firing on Elam, striking him in the back of the head and in the back.

The lawsuit claims that at approximately 8.30pm, Elam was a passenger in a 2004 Acura that crashed into a fence when police tried to pull the vehicle over for a traffic violation

Elam and the other occupants of the Acura attempted to flee the scene after crashing their car and Bolanos immediately began chasing after them

‘Failing to activate his body camera was in direct violation of mandatory CPD orders requiring officers to activate the cameras in all use of force incidents,’ the suit reads. 

His partner – Officer Wilfredo Gama Jr – approached Elam’s body and began searching him, retrieving a cell phone and headphones from his coat pocket. 

Gama’s body cam footage showed Elam’s bleeding body as he was searched by the officer, the lawsuit says. 

The suit asserts that police waited over five minutes before informing a dispatcher of the shooting and requesting an ambulance for Elam. 

Elam was taken to the Mt. Sinai Hospital but was pronounced dead from the head gunshot wounds. 

The lawsuit states that the officer failed to turn on his body camera and began firing on Elam, striking him in the back of the head and in the back

Martin and her family are being represented by lawyers Christopher Smith and Jeffrey J. Neslund

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages but mentions that funeral and burial expenses are some of the financial burdens of Elam’s death.

Elam’s family ‘have lost and will continue to lose, pecuniary support, consortium, society, companionship as well as grief and sorrow from the loss of the love and affection’ of the teen, the suit reads. 

Martin and her family are being represented by lawyers Christopher Smith and Jeffrey J. Neslund. 

Neslund had previously represented Laquan McDonald’s family in their suit against Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014

Neslund had previously represented Laquan McDonald’s family in their suit against Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014. 

At a press conference on Thursday, Neslund announced that Martin would be going to West Town High School’s graduation on Friday to accept her son’s diploma.

Police claimed that a Elam had a gun at the scene but Neslund disputes that assertion, WGN TV reports. 

‘We have done an extensive investigation talking to everyone who was in the car and witnesses from the neighborhood, who actually saw the shooting, no one said Michael was ever in possession of a gun,’ he said. 

Bolanos was placed on desk duty for 30 days as required by Chicago police policy but has since been placed on active duty in Ogden District. 

Police records show that he joined the department in April 2014. 

The shooting is still being investigated by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.  

Police claimed that a Elam had a gun at the scene but Neslund disputes that assertion