The moment Jason Van Dyke was sentenced to 6 years, 9 months in prison (Jason Van Dyke sentenced to 6 years, 9 months in prison for Laquan McDonald murder).
Former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke was sentenced 81 months in Illinois Department of Corrections (2 years mandatory supervisory release) on Friday January 18, 2019 at 5:34 PM CST by Cook County Judge Vincent M.Gaughan. The sentencing followed the verdict of GUILTY of 2nd Degree Murder that was reached at 12:32 p.m. on Friday, October 5, 2018. There was no judgment for the conviction of the 16 counts of Aggravated Battery.
The sentence amounts to 6 years and 9 months. Van Dyke faced 20 years to life, but also could have been sentenced only probation.
The former Chicago police officer was accused of murdering Laquan McDonald, who was armed with a knife, on October 20, 2014.
On October 20, 2014, Chicago police officers were in the area of 4100 South Pulaski Road, responding to a report that a male subject was carrying a knife and breaking into vehicles in a truck yard at 41st Street and Kildare Avenue. Investigation revealed that McDonald was walking erratically down the street while holding a folding knife with a three-inch (7.5 cm) blade. Initially, internal police reports described the incident similarly and ruled the shooting justified. Initially Van Dyke was not charged in the shooting at that time.
On November 24, 2015, when Chicago police released a dash cam video of the shooting thirteen months later,the video showed McDonald had been walking away from the police when he was shot. The same day the video was released, Officer Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder and was initially held without bail at the Cook County Jail at 26th Street and California Avenue. He was released on bail on November 30, 2015. In trial on October 5, 2018, Van Dyke was found guilty of second-degree murder, along with 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.
The City of Chicago reached a settlement with McDonald’s family. The initial demand from Laquan McDonald’s family was $1 million per gunshot or $16 million. The actual settlement was $5 million.
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