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CHICAGO (WLS) -- Video of Chicago police fatally shooting a 22-year-old man on the city's Northwest Side last month was released to the public Wednesday morning as his family and Mayor Lori Lightfoot called for calm.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability has made a rare recommendation that the officer who discharged his weapon, fatally injuring Anthony Alvarez, be relieved of police powers during the investigation.
The police shooting video release includes nearly three dozen recordings of the early morning encounter with Alvarez, from cameras worn by CPD officers to security cameras in the Portage Park gas station where the whole thing began a little after 1 a.m. on March 31.
The newly-released videos reveal several things: what is evidently a pistol in Alvarez's right hand until the time he goes down; that Alvarez didn't appear to point at police or fire any shots; and how the fatal encounter started. All of the video may be disturbing as you watch it.
The video begins with Alvarez cutting through a gas station with a CPD tactical unit following him. Police lights can be seen, but there is no sound on the video.
He's next seen moments later on a second camera at the gas station, running and tossing a bag as officers close in. Officers reported it as an "investigatory stop" for a person with gun.
Then, officers are seen pursuing Alvarez through a Portage Park alley for more than 30 seconds before turning onto a residential street, the 5200-block of West Eddy Street.
About five shots are fired by 29-year-old Chicago Police Officer Evan Solano. One went into Alvarez's right back, according to the medical examiner.
Alvarez can be heard asking police why they shot him. He later died at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.
A version of the video that had been slowed down and zoomed in on shows what appears to be a pistol in Alvarez's right hand and a glowing phone in his left hand.