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Chicago Police Release Footage of Laquan McDonald Being Shot 16 Times

The graphic footage taken from a dashcam shows 17 year-old Laquan McDonald being shot 16 times.

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Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke charged with murder.

Protesters called for the trio’s release and were gathered outside a Chicago Police Department building at South State Street. The disturbing video shows Van Dyke gunning McDonald down with several shots before firing more shots into his lifeless body as he lay slain on the ground.

“Chicago police fought hard to keep the dash cam video secret”, ThinkProgress’ Aviva Shen reports. They say Van Dyke opened fire from about 15 feet and kept shooting after the teen fell to the ground.

The teen did not comply with “numerous police orders to drop the knife”, the officer’s attorney, Daniel Herbert, told the Chicago Tribune.

The release of the video came as a result of a lawsuit brought about by a freelance journalist over a year ago. As the vehicle parks, the camera stabilizes on Laquan, who is seen briefly walking away from officers before being hit with a barrage of bullets.

Van Dyke then fired from close range nearly immediately.McDonald falls down after being shot by the officer.

“People have the right to be angry… but they do not have the right to commit criminal acts”, he said. “I felt compelled in the interest of public safety to announce these state charges today”, she said.

Chicago police scuffle with protesters in Chicago, on Tuesday, November 24, 2015.

“No one understands the anger more than us but if you choose to speak out, we urge you to be peaceful”, Alvarez said in a statement.

Mayor Emanuel cited the McDonald family, “They have asked for calm, and for those who do protest to do so peacefully”.

“I’m pretty disgusted at what it took to get this video”, Topic says. Prosecutors allege he shot the victim 16 times. The video was released a day ahead of the court-ordered deadline and on the same day Van Dyke turned himself in to authorities.

In April, the city agreed to pay $5 million (£3.31 million) to the family even before a suit had formally been filed in the case.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy held a news conference Tuesday night addressing the 2014 fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

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The dash cam video showing a Chicago police officer allegedly shooting a teenager to death has been made public for the first time.

Screen shot of dashcam video