Bodycam Released In Police Shooting Death Of Bradley Man Armed With Box Cutter: State Police

BRADLEY, IL — Illinois State Police on Tuesday released bodycam footage from the fatal shooting of a Bradley man earlier this month.

State police released the video after the Bradley Police Department requested that they conduct an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

At approximately 12:46 p.m. on April 8, Bradley Police Department officers conducted a well-being check in the 600 block of Jonette Avenue in Bradley for a man making suicidal statements. Police at the scene encountered a man holding what was initially described as a "bladed weapon." Police on Tuesday said Jose Orozco, 34, was armed with a box cutter.

Two officers responding to the scene that day are seen interacting with Orozco, telling him they'd seen text messages he'd sent containing suicidal comments.

"So what we'd like to do here, Jose, is we'd like to call an ambulance here for a mental evaluation and make a determination whether or not you're going to go to the hospital for a mental eval," one officer said.

At that point in the video, the officer appears to notice a bladed object in Orozco's hand.

"What do ya got in your hand, dude?" the officer can be heard asking.

Orozco initially stood still at a distance from police, with his arms at his sides. Then he begins striding toward them.

"Ah ah, stay there, man," officers command him.

Orozco is then seen continuing to advance toward them. As he closes the distance between them, police again tell him, "Stay there, man."

"Alright take your shot," he can be heard telling officers. "Take your shot."

One officer is heard calling for more units. Orozco then increases to a jog. The second officer then calls for a "less lethal" use of force, and, in a second angle of bodycam footage, an officer is seen tasing Orozco. Shortly after, three shots are fired.

Orozco then falls to the ground. As he begins to move again, police again command, "drop the knife or you will be shot."

Orozco can then be seen getting to his feet with the weapon still in his hand. As he stands, bodycam footage shows the first officer again firing his gun three times, clearly striking Orozco.

Police repeat the command to drop the knife and order him to stay on the ground. Additional officers arrive, and police are seen performing CPR on Orozco until paramedics arrive. Orozco was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead.

The two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave per department policy and pending the outcome of the investigation by state police, Chief Adrian Provost previously told Patch.

In accordance with ISP’s commitment to integrity and public transparency, the video of the event is being made available to the public, state police said. This video is being released after consultation with the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office.

ISP provided Orozco’s family the opportunity to review the video before its release to the public.

After a thorough investigation, ISP will turn the case over to the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office for review. The investigation is active and ongoing, and no additional information is available at this time.