The family of Isaac Goodlow III, who was fatally shot by Carol Stream police officers on February 3, has accused the officers of acting with "depraved hearts," a claim backed by their attorney Andrew M. Stroth. In a statement presented Monday on behalf of the Goodlow family, it was suggested that the police murdered an unarmed man in his apartment, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The tension escalated after the Goodlow's were shown a selection of the body-camera footage from the incident, described as "manicured, redacted and heavily edited" by the family's lawyer. The village of Carol Stream confirmed that the family had been allowed to view parts of the footage, a decision the family asserts fell short of the transparency promised, the Sun-Times reported. Carol Stream Village Manager William Holmer said that the village supported the investigators' decision and claimed there was a commitment to continued transparency moving forward.
Goodlow's relatives, propelled by grievance, gathered for a press conference outside the Carol Stream Police Department to voice their allegations that Isaac Goodlow was not posing a threat and in fact, was asleep when officers entered his home. Kyenna McConico, Goodlow's sister, claimed that he was alone with his dog at the time of the shooting, disputing the police's account of responding to a domestic violence call in what they described as a "tense" situation, said ABC7 Chicago.
Adding to the contention, the family states the released footage does not show Goodlow throwing any objects at officers, as they were reportedly told by the police. "They just came in there and started shooting. Immediately. They didn't announce their selves," a family member told, ABC7 Chicago. While the police department has not responded to requests for an updated statement, their most recent announcement maintained their commitment to sharing relevant video footage with the public as soon as possible.
"The family demands the full and unredacted videos be immediately released to the public and that the Village of Carol Stream and the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office take immediate steps to hold the Carol Stream Police Department and its officers accountable," stated Goodlow's family. They have vowed to pursue justice relentlessly, asserting, "We will not stop until we get justice for Isaac Goodlow," as Genia Reynolds, Goodlow's cousin, told ABC7 Chicago.
