Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke has been charged with first degree murder in the death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.
Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke has been charged with murder for shooting and killing a 17-year-old Laquan McDonald last year, authorities said Tuesday.
Officer Jason Van Dyke turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday morning and was scheduled to appear in bond court at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse, according to the office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.
Laquan McDonald was shot and killed on October 20, 2014 after encountering Chicago police officers on the southwest side of the city. He was armed with a knife when he was shot multiple times.
A judge recently ordered the release by Wednesday of the video capturing McDonald’s shooting. Officials in the City of Chicago are concerned that the video, which is believed to be graphic, could bring intense protests in the city. The video shows Laquan McDonald, 17, being shot 16 times on October 20, 2014 by police officer Jason Van Dyke. Van Dyke is on administrative duty while state and federal prosecutors investigate.
The shooting prompted outrage and generated a federal criminal investigation by the FBI and the Justice Department.
McDonald’s family received a $5 million settlement from the city in April 2015.
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