Police dash cam video of the shooting, which is graphic, was used by prosecutors to determine charges against the officer. Last Thursday, a circuit court judge ruled that the video was subject to public-disclosure laws and had to be released.
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Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday, becoming the first Chicago police officer to receive that charge for an on-duty fatality in the past 35 years, according to the Chicago Tribune.
McDonald, who was holding a knife when he was shot and had earlier slashed at the tires of a police cruiser was moving away from Van Dyke and made no threatening gestures when he was shot, Alvarez said.
It shows the 17-year-old McDonald walking down the middle of the street before his encounter with the police. An initial police version of the shooting said the teenager had lunged at the officers with a knife, but the video doesn’t show Mr. McDonald advancing on Mr. Van Dyke.
In the final moments, an officer can be seen kicking something out of the youth’s hands.
There is no audio in the video, so it’s unclear what’s being said.
Police say McDonald had refused to drop a knife and that Van Dyke had feared for his life. In a statement, the family said they did not want the video to be released to the public.
Hundreds took to upscale MI Avenue Tuesday night Chicago to protest the length of time it took for the officer to be charged and the video to be released. About 100 protesters gathered in the area and chanted “16 shots”, referring to the number of times Van Dyke reportedly shot McDonald. “But they do not have a right to … criminal acts”, Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said, according to NBC Chicago. Van Dyke and his partner leapt out of the auto, and the officer opened fire. “It is graphic, it is violent, it is chilling”. Police also said he had PCP in his system. He met privately and behind closed doors with ministers and community activists to discuss the process and the contents of this totally brutal, bombastic murder done by Chicago police officer.
None of the officers strategy McDonald to attempt to assist him as he bleeds out on the road, writhing as soon as within the remaining minute of video.
Chicago officials have voiced concern about the possibility of civil unrest, and in keeping with that real possibility, the McDonald family called for peaceful protests.
“The entire shooting took about 15 seconds, and McDonald was lying on the ground for 13 of them”, Shen notes. It added, “Don’t resort to violence in Laquan’s name”.
But some community leaders suggested Ms Alvarez only brought the charge because of the order to release the video.
During the trial, officer Van Dyke was not suspended from his services.
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The video shows puffs of smoke coming from the ground at some points, which court documents said were caused by bullets.
