In just one fleeting moment, everything can change.
On March 29th, the tragic death of Adam Rivera, a 13-year-old seventh grader from Chicago, unfolded in a single second. His story has ignited outrage and drawn attention to the ongoing issue of police violence against young people of color. Headlines like “Chicago Police Release Footage of Officer Shooting Boy” serve as stark reminders of a recurring nightmare that we cannot allow to become normalized. We must confront the uncomfortable truth: Adam Rivera should still be with us today.
Initial reports indicated that Adam was seen “holding a firearm” during a confrontation with the police. Prosecutors claimed gun residue was discovered on his hands, and they initially alleged that he had fired at officers—a claim later proven to be utterly false once bodycam footage emerged. Regardless of the circumstances, whether he was armed or not at any point, nothing justifies the use of deadly force against a child.
Upon hearing that the police bodycam footage would be released, I vowed not to watch it. After witnessing the harrowing evidence presented during previous trials, including that of Derek Chauvin, I felt I could not endure another moment capturing a life lost. Yet, I succumbed to the urge and watched it multiple times—each viewing left me devastated, grappling with the question: What transpired?
At the scene, a 21-year-old named Marco Torres was arrested, while Adam lay on the ground, unresponsive. Now, a mother is left without her child, and an entire community mourns.
Once again, our nation is confronted with the haunting reality of a young person of color dying at the hands of law enforcement. Did the officers consider the ramifications of their actions? Did they comprehend the gravity of discharging their weapons at a 13-year-old boy?
As I watched the footage, I saw a child—a boy who complied with police orders and then heard the gunfire. The officer’s voice shifted noticeably after the shots were fired; he sounded terrified as he rushed to call for an ambulance and attempted CPR, but it was too late. Adam Rivera was pronounced dead at 2:46 am.
This tragic pattern repeats itself, and despite ongoing discussions, the situation remains unchanged. Police continue to employ excessive force that too often leads to fatal outcomes. Officers need to think before reacting. Officer Torres had a choice to make: Did he want to end this child’s life? If he had chosen differently, Adam could have been alive today.
I have expressed my outrage in the past—after the deaths of George Floyd, Eric Garner, Daunte Wright—and it persists. This reality should anger us all. Our country faces a crisis as severe as the COVID-19 pandemic, with lives lost senselessly every day. Racism is a pandemic in its own right. Black and Brown lives do matter, but when will we see that reflected in police actions?
To law enforcement, I ask: Will you save a life next time? Will you call for backup and remain calm? Will you recognize that every life has value? We require officers who will consistently make the right decisions. The lives of our children depend on it.
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