Body worn camera video shows a Chicago police officer chasing Reginald Clay Jr., left, moments before the officer fatally shot Clay on April 15, 2023. (Civilian Office of Police Accountability)

Chicago’s police oversight agency on Wednesday released body camera footage showing a police officer fatally shooting 24-year-old Reginald Clay Jr. in Garfield Park last month.

The release of the graphic video comes after Clay’s family members reportedly filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Police Department, claiming the shooting was “unprovoked and unwarranted.”

The body-worn camera video — which the Civilian Office of Police Accountability released Wednesday morning — shows Clay being chased into a gangway alongside a house in the 3800 block of West Flournoy Street before he turns around and appears to pull a firearm from his waistband while approaching police. He was then shot and collapsed with blood pooling from his chest.

“As part of this investigation, COPA will review the initial interaction, foot pursuit, body worn activation and subsequent use of deadly force as well as all other matters to determine if the officers’ actions were in accordance with Department policy and training,” COPA First Deputy Chief Administrator Ephraim Eaddy said in a statement.

The shooting occurred at around 10 a.m. on April 15. Body worn camera video from the officer who shot Clay begins with the officer driving a squad vehicle before pulling over, getting out and beginning to approach Clay, who was walking away from the vehicle.

Clay begins to run away and the officer follows, pursuing him through an alleyway behind a home and into a backyard on Flournoy Street. Clay runs through the yard and into a gangway on the opposite side of the house, but turns around when he reached a dead end.

Clay turns back and begins moving toward the officer, and while doing so appears to remove a firearm from his waistband. Block Club Chicago has reported that Clay’s family claims he did not point the firearm at police.

As he does so, he is shot by the officer and collapses to the ground with blood covering his chest and hands. No audio is available on the video until after the shooting occurred.

GRAPHIC VIDEO: Footage released Wednesday shows the fatal April 15, 2023 shooting of Reginald Clay Jr..

When the audio does begin, an officer can be heard radioing “10-1, 10-1 shots fired.” After a few moments, the shooting officer yells “get an ambulance over here now.” Clay later died of his injuries.

In its initial statement, the CPD said the officers were on patrol when they observed several individuals near a vehicle, one of whom was seen “leaning into the vehicle.” The officers then began pursuit and the “individual turned toward an officer with a firearm,” police said.

“No reason, no reason at all to chase him — none,” Clay’s father, Reginald Clay Sr., said during a press conference after viewing the video Tuesday.

The officer who shot Clay was immediately placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days.

Note: This article has been updated to correct a date in a photo caption.

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431