The family of a man fatally shot by a Chicago police officer wants criminal charges against the officer

The family of a man shot by a Chicago police officer last year wants to file criminal charges in the case.

They made this demand on Friday at a press conference in Daley Plaza, which was also attended by their lawyer.

Reginald Clay Jr., 24, was fatally shot by Officer Fernando Ruiz on April 15, 2023, after a short chase in the 3800 block of West Flournoy Street. According to statements from the police department and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, Clay fled around 10 a.m. from officers who approached him and a group of people.

Body camera footage released by COPA showed Clay walking away as two officers pulled up. Clay fled through a hallway into a backyard and then into another hallway that was cordoned off. Clay can be seen turning toward the officers with a gun in his right hand before putting the gun in his left hand and apparently attempting to place it on the porch. An officer opens fire as Clay appears to scream and clutch at his chest.

After an investigation, COPA, the city’s police oversight agency, recommended that Ruiz be fired from the department. The agency alleged that Ruiz violated the department’s foot pursuit policy, failed to notify the Office of Emergency Management and Communications of the pursuit in accordance with that policy, failed to activate his body camera in a timely manner and failed to use de-escalation techniques before using force.

CPD Supt. Larry Snelling disagreed with COPA’s recommendation and suggested a two-day suspension instead.

Chicago Police Board President Kyle Cooper sided with COPA at a hearing last week. Ruiz’s fate will now be decided either after a hearing before the full police department or, if the officer so chooses, after public or private arbitration.

Attorney Kevin O’Connor speaks to reporters Friday at Daley Plaza. O’Connor represents the family of Reginald Clay, who was fatally shot by a Chicago police officer. The family wants charges filed against the officer and for the officer to be fired.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun Times

Clay’s family attended the hearing last week and criticized Snelling for giving them “false hope” during their meetings with him.

Kevin O’Connor, the family’s attorney, said relatives hope the police department will side with COPA and Cooper and relieve Ruiz of his police powers.

“I would hope that if they recommend dismissal that the district attorney’s office would look into it,” O’Connor said Friday. “If an independent police agency determines that an officer has violated a person’s civil rights, criminal charges should be filed against them.”

The district attorney’s office said Friday that the case will be “reviewed” by prosecutors from the Law Enforcement Accountability Division, who review investigations into all officer-involved shootings on duty to determine whether criminal charges are appropriate.

“I just need justice for my son,” said Clay’s father, Reginald Clay Sr. “The work is not over, even if the police department makes their decision, we still have a long way to go.”

O’Connor filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city on behalf of Clay’s family.

“We are moving forward with discovery to find out all the evidence that led to this,” O’Connor said.

“They had no justification. They had no reason to pursue him and they violated all of their own foot chase policies and procedures when they pursued him,” he added. “A policy that is not enforced is useless.”

Ruiz remains on active duty with the gang’s investigative unit, a police spokesman said.