Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Video of Police Shooting Ronnie Johnson Will Be Released Next Week: Rahm

By Kelly Bauer | December 3, 2015 1:30pm
 Dorothy Holmes holds a photo of her son Ronald
Dorothy Holmes holds a photo of her son Ronald "Ronnie" Johnson, who was shot by police in 2014.
View Full Caption
Facebook

CHICAGO — The city will soon release a dashcam video showing an officer shooting and killing Ronald Johnson in 2014, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.

Johnson, who was 25, was shot and killed by police on Oct. 12, 2014, just days before Laquan McDonald was also killed by an officer. A dashcam video showing McDonald's slaying has generated controversy throughout the city, with protests breaking out and Supt. Garry McCarthy being fired by Emanuel.

The city may release the video as soon as next week, Emanuel said.

Last week, Johnson's mother, Dorothy Holmes, said the video showing her son's death should be released. Police have said Johnson pointed a gun at an officer, but Holmes, who said she has seen the video of the incident, told DNAinfo that is a "lie."

The video shows Johnson running while a police car approaches, Holmes said.

"This officer jumps out the back seat of the car and starts shooting," Holmes said at an Oct. 24, 2015, protest. She carried a sign with a photo of her son's face and activists publicly mourned "Ronnieman" at the event. "And he shot until my son [went] down.

"They can't keep killing our kids, getting away with it. I want them to know I'm not going nowhere."

At that protest, Holmes said justice would only come when Emanuel, McCarthy and State's Attorney Anita Alvarez were out of power and unable to protect "crooked" officers.

"We're not going nowhere. We're going to fight back," Holmes said. "We have to fight back to get justice. We're going to fight back until we get it."

Johnson was a "happy" boy who loved and cared for animals, particularly dogs, Holmes said. Friends and family called him "Ronnieman" and said he was the "dogman" of the neighborhood.

"He was happy, smiley," Holmes said. "He would collect dogs in the neighborhoods and nurse them back to health."

For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here: