Chicago police release bodycam footage of fatal shooting that sparked protests

The shooting caused large protests on Saturday and Sunday nights.

July 16, 2018, 12:38 AM

Chicago police released video of a fatal shooting on Sunday, one day after a local man's death ignited protests in the city, clashes with cops and resulted in the officer being placed on desk duty.

The protests Saturday led to multiple officers being injured, police said. Marchers were out again on Sunday, though no arrests were reported.

Chicago Police Chief Fred Waller said a group of officers patrolling the city's South Shore neighborhood at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday saw a person they believed to be armed and confronted him.

A struggle followed and the man was fatally shot. None of the officers were injured.

"Some officers working a foot post, walking along 71st Street, saw a subject they thought might have been armed from the bulge around his waistband," Waller said at a press conference Saturday night. "After that, they approached the subject, who became combative and as he became combative, flailing away, he broke free from the officers and they thought he appeared to be reaching for a weapon -- which he did have a weapon on him -- and officers tragically shot this man."

PHOTO: Chicago Police attemps to grab Harith Augustus, 37, who was fatally shot by police moments later, in this still image from police body camera video footage taken in Chicago on July 14, 2018 and released on July 15, 2018.
Chicago Police attemps to grab Harith Augustus, 37, who was fatally shot by police moments later, in this still image from police body camera video footage taken in Chicago on July 14, 2018 and released on July 15, 2018.
Chicago Police Department/Handout via Reuters
PHOTO: Frame grab from a handout body camera video released July 15, 2018, by the Chicago Police Department shows Harith Augustus with what appears to be a handgun in Chicago, July 14, 2018.
Frame grab from a handout body camera video released July 15, 2018, by the Chicago Police Department shows Harith Augustus with what appears to be a handgun in a holster on his right as he is confronted by Chicago Police officers shortly before they fatally shot him in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, July 14, 2018.
Chicago Police Department/Handout via Shutterstock

Police released bodycam footage of the shooting on Sunday in a bid to explain the officers' actions.

"We're not trying to hide anything, we're not trying to fluff anything. The video speaks for itself," said Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who said he consulted with Augustus' family before releasing the footage.

Waller called the shooting a "tragic incident" on Saturday night. Police said only one officer opened fire, striking the man.

The man was pronounced dead at Jackson Park Hospital, according to officials. Police identified the victim as 37-year-old Harith Augustus, who lived in the neighborhood.

The police recovered a semiautomatic-type weapon and magazines from the suspect.

The suspect did not fire his weapon, Waller said.

PHOTO: Harith Augustus, 37, fatally shot by police, is seen fleeing from Chicago Police in this still image from police body camera video footage taken in Chicago, July 14, 2018 and released on July 15, 2018.
Harith Augustus, 37, fatally shot by police, is seen fleeing from Chicago Police in this still image from police body camera video footage taken in Chicago, July 14, 2018 and released on July 15, 2018.
Chicago Police Department/Handout via Reuters

Augustus was a well-known figure in the neighborhood, working as a barber at a shop just a few blocks from the shooting, Chicago ABC station WLS reported.

In the immediate aftermath of the fatal shooting, protests began in the area. WLS captured video of protesters pushing and shoving back and forth with police officers.

PHOTO: Activists gather to march, shout, pray and protest against the alleged shooting of Harith Augustus by a Chicago Police officer during a confrontation in Chicago, July 15, 2018.
Activists gather to march, shout, pray and protest against the alleged shooting of Harith Augustus by a Chicago Police officer during a confrontation in Chicago, July 15, 2018.
Tannen Maury/EPA via Shutterstock
PHOTO: Demonstrators march through the streets to protest the fatal shooting of Harith Augustus by a Chicago police officer in Chicago, July 15, 2018.
Demonstrators march through the streets to protest the fatal shooting of Harith Augustus by a Chicago police officer in Chicago, July 15, 2018.
Jim Young/AFP via Getty Images

Waller said three or four officers suffered minor injuries in the protests when demonstrators threw rocks and glass bottles at them. Waller said a few protesters were arrested, but did not have a specific number. Anthony Guglielmi, chief communications officer for the Chicago Police Department, later tweeted four protesters were arrested.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability said in a statement to WLS that there would be a "thorough, objective and unbiased investigation and requests the public's patience and cooperation."

Just hours after the shooting, the Chicago Police Department released a preliminary statement about the shooting saying the officer who fired the shots would be "placed on routine administrative duties for a period of 30 days."

ABC News' Rex Sakamoto contributed to this report.