Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez played the video during a news conference — including a freeze frame blown up and enhanced by an FBI forensics team that she said appears to show a gun in Johnson’s hand — to help explain why she decided not to charge Hernandez with a crime.
Afterward, the attorney for Ronald Johnson’s family, who have a federal civil rights suit pending against the city, expressed disappointment at Alvarez’ decision, and disputed the state’s attorney’s account of factors she said led her to it, maintaining there was no justification for shooting the man in the back as he ran away.
“I submit that there’s an object in his hand,” Alvarez said.
“Even though Mr. Johnson was running away from Hernandez and other officers, he was running toward a police vehicle containing two other responding officers, and unknown members of the public inside that park,” she said. “Furthermore, Johnson could have easily turned around and quickly fired at the officers pursuing him or even fired as he ran.”