Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling has agreed with a recommendation from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) to terminate Chicago Police Officer Noah Ball following an investigation into a 2022 shooting that left a 13-year-old boy permanently paralyzed.
Records released Friday show COPA concluded that Ball’s use of deadly force was unjustified during the May 18, 2022 incident. Superintendent Snelling endorsed that finding and agreed Ball should be fired and placed on the city’s list of employees ineligible for rehire.
The boy, identified in court records by the initials A.G., survived the shooting but sustained a severed spinal cord that left him permanently paralyzed.
COPA Investigation Findings
According to COPA’s investigative report, the shooting occurred during a foot pursuit involving a vehicle suspected of being connected to a carjacking and kidnapping of a child in Oak Park the day before.
The agency determined that when the 13-year-old was shot:
- The boy had exited a vehicle and fled on foot.
- Four officers pursued him.
- Video from a nearby surveillance camera showed the boy turning toward officers and appearing to raise his hands.
- Officer Ball fired three shots in rapid succession.
- The boy was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
COPA concluded the boy “posed no imminent threat” when Ball fired his weapon.
Investigators also determined that Ball fired his weapon within seconds of exiting his squad car.
According to the agency’s findings, Ball failed to consider alternatives to deadly force.
- Use time as a tactic
- Take cover
- Request additional assistance
COPA stated those options could have reduced or prevented the need for deadly force.
Body Camera Policy Violations
The investigation also determined that none of the officers involved activated their body-worn cameras before the shooting, which violated Chicago Police Department policy.
The incident was captured by gas station surveillance video, not police body cameras.
Two of the officers present have since left the department. According to Superintendent Snelling, the remaining officer should receive a reprimand for failing to activate his body camera.
Officer’s Employment Status
City employment records indicate Officer Ball is not listed among active employees.
According to police department officials:
- Ball joined the Chicago Police Department in 2017.
- He was on a leave of absence when the superintendent approved COPA’s termination recommendation.
- He will be placed on a city list barring him from being rehired.
Ball could not be reached for comment, and an attorney representing him did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the city’s Law Department also declined comment.
Records also indicate Ball did not participate in COPA’s investigation, despite departmental policy requiring officer participation.
Civil Lawsuit Filed by Family
The boy’s mother, Cierra Corbitt, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Chicago.
The lawsuit alleges Ball shot the teenager “recklessly, callously, and wantonly” while the boy was surrendering during the foot pursuit.
The case is currently pending before U.S. District Judge John Tharp Jr..
According to court records:
- The boy’s name appears only by initials in court filings.
- Settlement negotiations have occurred but have not resulted in an agreement.
- A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
Public records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show Chicago taxpayers paid more than $1 million to private attorneys defending Ball’s actions through March 2025. Updated totals have not yet been released.
Earlier 2021 Shooting Incident
COPA’s recommendation to terminate Ball marks the second time the oversight agency has concluded he used deadly force without justification.
The earlier case involved a June 2021 shooting during a traffic stop.
In that incident:
- Ball fired at a man who fled a traffic stop.
- Ball told investigators the man pointed a gun and fired at him.
- A firearm was recovered at the scene.
- No one was injured.
However, COPA determined there was no evidence the man fired at officers, and in June 2023 the agency recommended Ball be fired.
Superintendent Snelling declined to adopt that recommendation in September 2023, determining Ball’s actions were justified.
The disagreement was reviewed by a randomly selected member of the Chicago Police Board.
Former board member Nanette Doorley ruled in May 2024 that the superintendent had met the burden required to overturn COPA’s recommendation.
Ball ultimately received a one-day suspension in that case for failing to activate his body camera.
Policy Context: Foot Pursuit Reforms
One month after the May 2022 shooting, the Chicago Police Department finalized new policies governing foot pursuits.
The changes were required under the federal consent decree governing Chicago police reforms.
The policy changes followed two high-profile fatal police shootings in March 2021 involving:
- Adam Toledo, age 13
- Anthony Alvarez, age 22
Those incidents led to broader scrutiny of Chicago police foot pursuit tactics.
Current Status
As of the latest available records:
- COPA determined the May 2022 shooting of the 13-year-old was unjustified.
- Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling agreed with the recommendation to terminate Officer Noah Ball.
- Ball is listed as an inactive member of the Chicago Police Department.
- The federal civil rights lawsuit filed by the boy’s family remains pending.
- Settlement negotiations are ongoing, but no agreement has been reached.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the shooting occur?
The incident occurred on May 18, 2022, shortly after 10 p.m. on Chicago’s West Side near Chicago and Cicero avenues.
Was the 13-year-old armed?
According to COPA’s investigation, the boy was unarmed when he was shot.
What injuries did the boy suffer?
The shooting severed the boy’s spinal cord, leaving him permanently paralyzed.
Was the boy charged with a crime?
COPA’s report states there is no evidence the boy was charged with a crime related to the vehicle involved in the pursuit or the earlier carjacking.
Did police body cameras capture the shooting?
No. Investigators found that none of the officers activated their body-worn cameras before the shooting, in violation of department policy.
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