$5M Settlement For Family of Teen Shot by Chicago Police as He Fled Crash

A Chicago City Council committee on Monday voted in favor of paying out a $5 million settlement to the mother of a 17-year-old who was shot and killed by a Chicago Police officer (CPD) while running away from a car crash that occurred in February 2019.

Alice Martin, the mother of the slain teen, Michael Elam, filed the lawsuit several months after the shooting against the city and the officer involved, Adolfo Bolanos. According to
the suit, Elam was a passenger in the back seat of a car that police
tried to pull over for a traffic violation around 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 16,
2019. The officers were in an unmarked squad car. After an approximate ten block pursuit,
the 2004 Acura that Elam was riding in crashed at the intersection of
21st Place & Keeler Avenue, and the passengers inside the vehicle attempted to flee the scene on foot.

Immediately after the crash, the officer exited his car without
his body camera activated and began firing his gun as Elam attempted to
run away, hitting him in the back of the head and back. According to
the lawsuit, which said Elam was unarmed and not a threat, “More than
five minutes passed” from the time the teen was shot and when
officers requested an ambulance.

According to Chicago Police Board documents, the head of the Civilian
Office of Police Accountability recommended Officer Bolanos be fired for the
shooting, failing to turn on his camera, notify dispatchers about the
shooting and immediately request appropriate medical aid for Elam. While
CPD Supt. David Brown disagreed, arguing for a 10-day
suspension.

The settlement was approved by a voice vote in the Finance Committee. It now heads to the full Chicago City Council for a final approval vote.