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Read the press release here.

Lawyer Releases Video of Police Shooting of Alfontish Cockerham

By Kelly Bauer | December 21, 2015 8:14am

CHICAGO — A lawyer for the family of Alfontish Cockerham has released a video of police fatally shooting the 23-year-old man in South Shore.

The video, which shows police chasing Cockerham on June 20, is the latest to be released in a string of high-profile police shooting videos. Videos showing police fatally shooting Laquan McDonald and Ronnie Johnson led to protests throughout the city this fall and winter.

WARNING: GRAPHIC

Police said they were responding to a report of a man with a gun in the 7000 block of South Merrill when they saw Cockerham, who ran away. Cockerham pointed a gun at police and an officer shot him, police said, and found at a gun at the scene. But activists and community members have questioned that police acccount and said witnesses said Cockerham dropped a gun before police shot him.

The video shows police chasing Cockerham around a corner, out of sight of the camera. Cockerham and an officer then run back into view and Cockerham, who had been shot, falls between two parked cars.

Cockerham died five days later.

Activists and neighbors have already led marches and protests for Cockerham, called "Nunu," where they spoke out against what they called excessive force used by police. Cockerham's family plans to file a lawsuit against the city, according to NBC.

Journalist Brandon Smith, whose court case forced the release of video showing 17-year-old Laquan McDonald being shot by police, has called for the release of video showing the Cockerham shooting.

"We've spoken with people who have seen the video and it clearly shows a criminal act on the part of the officer," said Smith, according to ABC.

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