[56] Ruben Roman, the 21-year-old who was arrested on the night of Toledo's death, was charged with felony counts of child endangerment, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm.

A representative of the organization stated, “We are aware that the city will continue to use him as a scapegoat for the killing of Adam Toledo, which was committed by the Chicago Police Department.”[58] In 2022, Roman was acquitted on the weapons charges.

[59] On April 17, 2021, Kim Foxx, the Cook County State's Attorney, announced an investigation into why prosecutor's earlier descriptions of the shooting of Adam Toledo hadn't matched the video.

[60] Later that day, Foxx's office announced James Murphy, the prosecutor who had provided the "misleading" description of the video, would be placed on administrative leave.

"[63] After Foxx admitted that she had neither watched the full video nor reviewed Murphy's statements prior to the court hearing, individuals such as a former-Representative Luis Gutierrez criticized her office.

"[65] On May 5, Foxx' office announced it had concluded its investigation, stating that Murphy "did not intend to give the impression that Adam Toledo was holding a gun when shot," that he had returned to his assignment, and was no longer on leave.

[75] In the lead up to the release of the body cam footage, all Chicago police officers' days off were cancelled to "ensure public safety".

[76] During the press conference releasing the body cam footage, Mayor Lightfoot stated that the city would be putting into place plans to prepare for unrest.

[78][79] On April 15, several protests took place following the release of the body cam footage, one of which shut down traffic on northbound Michigan Avenue, and another of which occurred at Union Park.

[86][87][88] The Toledo family released a statement on April 16 that implored "everyone who gathers in Adam's name to remain peaceful, respectful and nonviolent and to continue to work constructively and tirelessly for reform.

"[91] The Toledo family's lawyer, Adeena Weiss-Ortiz, said "The last time his mother saw him, she was putting him to bed in the room that he shared with his 11-year-old brother.

This is simply not true.”[95][98] Eddie Bocanegra, of READI Chicago, criticized those attacking Toledo's mother, telling The New Yorker, “It's bullshit... People ask, ‘What was he doing out at two-thirty,’ or they talk shit about his mom.

"[95] Some media commentators, such as John Oliver, criticized Chicago's changing characterizations of the shooting; Oliver stated, "We couldn't even finish writing about what happened to Daunte Wright before the city of Chicago released video of one of their officers killing a 13-year-old unarmed child, Adam Toledo—footage which clearly contradicted the picture of an armed confrontation painted by the police and the mayor, as well as a prosecutor who said Toledo had a gun in his hand when he was shot, which he did not.

"[99] Columnist Eric Zorn wrote an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune on April 6, 2021, saying it was "too early to say with confidence" what happened and thus Toledo should not be portrayed as a "martyr"[100] until more facts come out.

In focusing on details and marshaling evidence and arguments, I can neglect the emotional resonance in situations, as though I’ve forgotten or don't care that a child who was loved has died ...

"[105] His brother, former-Secretary Julian Castro, wrote, "Chicago PD shot Adam Toledo with his hands in the air instantaneously after ordering him to do so—then lied about it.

"[106] Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote on Twitter, "My heart goes out to the loved ones of Adam Toledo and Daunte Wright and everyone who's reeling from these horrifying killings.

B. Pritzker held a press conference about Toledo's death, stating it was “abundantly clear that our entire system failed Adam,” and that authorities need to move to “investigate and adjudicate what happened that night in Little Village in the interest of justice and accountability.”[111] On Twitter, Illinois senator Tammy Duckworth wrote, "If we're to truly be the Land of the Free, every single American must feel safe, must be able to live.

This is a bad cop who acted out of anger and wanted to get even while Adam, barely a teenager, turned around and was trying to obey the officer's orders to show his hands.

LULAC demands accountability and anything short of that is unacceptable.”[114] Referring to controversy surrounding Chicago's foot pursuit policy,[115][116] the American Civil Liberties Union released a statement saying, "The anger and frustration expressed by many in viewing the video is understandable and cannot be ignored.

"[119] On April 1, 2021, the CPD alerted its officers that Latin Kings gang members were allegedly instructed to open fire at unmarked police cruisers to retaliate for the shooting of Toledo.

[123][124] Toledo's death was also compared to other police killings of Black and Latino children in the United States, including 12-year-old Tamir Rice, 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones,[125] 13-year-old Andy Lopez, and 18-year-old Andrés Guardado.

[132] Patrisia Macias-Rojas, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago further stated, “there's a real opportunity here to link up what's been happening in Latino communities around immigration and the criminalization of youth with what's happening around Black Lives Matter.”[132] In Toledo's hometown of Little Village, some noted a generational divide between older and younger Latinos in their attitudes toward police in response to the shooting.

[133][134][135] In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Doris Hernandez, a mother who lost her son to violence in 2012, said many older Latino immigrants and refugees in Little Village "come from rural towns with strong conservative values that are reflected in their opinions about religion and policing.

"[133] Others also noted the complexity of the issues facing the Latino community surrounding immigration status and language, in addition to stressors related to police brutality and poverty.

"[137] After the release of the video, Illinois state Rep. La Shawn Ford, the co-sponsor of a bill titled the Law Enforcement Accountability Act of 2021, called for a revamp of foot chase policies and the end of qualified immunity.

[142] In response to these proposed policy changes, Latino community activists called for an immediate moratorium on foot pursuits in Chicago, the development of procedures outlining when an officer can engage in a chase, when lethal force may be used, and what disciplinary action should be taken for violations.

[143] At the time of the shooting, the CPD was operating under a court-ordered consent decree, which required the city to implement hundreds of reforms to its policing practices.

[144] Because consent decrees are monitored by the U.S. Department of Justice, a group of Latino law associations called on the DOJ to open an investigation into Toledo's death, with a focus on three potential areas of reform: establish clear procedures about foot pursuits, develop oversight on how officers interact with children, and establish policies on how officers engage in car chases in densely populated neighborhoods.

They are a reminder of a social hierarchy that privileges police with qualified immunity, rewards racist vigilantes with internet fame and money, and punishes communities of color with death if they question that order.