Outside Chicago's 25th Police District on Friday, a crowd of activists marked a grim anniversary and turned up the pressure on city leaders. Dozens gathered to demand criminal charges in the fatal police shooting of 19-year-old Nathaniel Fejerang, one year after a confrontation in West Humboldt Park left Fejerang dead and an officer hospitalized. Organizers said the release of case materials last summer, paired with what they describe as a lingering vacuum of accountability, pushed them back into the streets.
Backstory: The shooting
The shooting unfolded on the night of May 29, 2025, in the 4300 block of West North Avenue, after Tactical officers said they attempted an investigatory stop that turned into a foot chase. According to police, Fejerang’s gun went off during a struggle, hitting an officer in the leg, and a second officer then opened fire. Fejerang was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he later died, as reported by Chicago Sun‑Times.
Video release and oversight
In July 2025, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability released body‑worn camera footage and related documents that show a struggle before shots were fired. CBS Chicago reported on the videos and noted that one officer’s camera shut off just before the initial gunshot. COPA kept the case open.
Anniversary protest
On the anniversary, protesters packed the sidewalk in front of the 25th District station, chanting and holding signs that called on prosecutors to file criminal charges against the officer who fired the shots, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Organizers argued that the publicly released video and other police records provide enough evidence to support a criminal case, and they pledged to keep up the political and public pressure on elected officials and city oversight agencies.
How accountability works
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability conducts independent investigations of shootings by officers and publishes materials under Chicago's video‑release policy; its findings can lead to discipline within CPD, per COPA. Prosecutors decide whether to file criminal charges after reviewing the evidence; coverage of the Fejerang case has noted that COPA's release of footage and documents was meant to inform both the public and any charging decisions, as outlined by ABC7 Chicago. The office still lists the incident as under review.
Family and neighborhood reaction
Family members and neighbors have held memorials in the backyard where Fejerang was killed, leaving candles and photos and continuing to push for answers, according to Chicago Sun‑Times. Relatives told reporters they do not understand why Fejerang was stopped and noted that he had no adult criminal record, while neighbors described him as a familiar face on the block.
Protest leaders said they plan to keep organizing until prosecutors announce a decision and oversight bodies provide clearer answers. They urged anyone with information or footage to contact COPA through its online case portal and tipline, as described in the agency's public materials. COPA lists its transparency practices and contact information on the site.
