The case marks the first time a Chicago police officer has been charged with first-degree murder for an on-duty fatality in almost 35 years. On the day a Cook County judge ordered the release of the video, Alvarez filed murder charges against Van Dyke.
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Smith confirmed that neither deputy filed a report with the sheriff’s department, although radio dispatch traffic released by the office suggests they were on the scene immediately after the controversial shooting.
The attorney for the Johnson family said the prosecutors’ investigation was a “joke”.
But outrage has mounted over the shooting and police misconduct overall. They also called for a special prosecutor to investigate McDonald’s October 2014 death.
Thomson ReutersChicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel listens to remarks at a news conference in ChicagoCHICAGO (Reuters) – Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel faces increased pressure to resign, as local black religious leaders called early Friday for a “vote of no confidence” against him for the 2014 police shooting of a 17-year-old black teenager.
Protesters held signs demanding the resignation of Emanuel and Cook County State Attorney Anita Alvarez and for an overhaul of Chicago’s police board. So far, Emanuel has convened a panel to review police practices and fired Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, but the moves have not quelled anger toward the mayor himself.
“We’re here today because there’s a problem in the city of Chicago when an officer who has sworn to serve and protect can gun down a citizen for no other reason than he was black”, added Hunter, who said McDonald was a “big boy, but he was a teddy bear”.
The video, which was released under court order, shows McDonald veering away from Van Dyke when the officer shot him. Suspicions of hostile treatment by the public, she said, have fueled unrest in a number of cities. He also said there are “thousands of Laquan McDonalds”.
“He bent down and said, ‘Hang in there buddy, ‘ ” Smith said. When asked on Monday if the president had spoken to the mayor about the broader situation in Chicago, Earnest said he was not aware of a conversation.
The FBI contacted the sheriff’s office in July to interview the officer as a potential witness in the case, Smith confirmed.
“Today, I own it. I take responsibility for what happened because it happened on my watch”, Emanuel said.
Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation requested and obtained the video camera system from the officer’s vehicle in August, Smith said.
Alvarez also expressed last week that she was firm on her intention to stay in office, despite the growing cries for her to step down.
An analysis by the Chicago Tribune notes that as of Friday, there have been 2,818 shootings in the city this year.
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A relative of the black teenager shot 16 times by a white Chicago police officer says the family is traumatized by seeing the frequent TV news replay of video showing the death. “Had to say something on Saturday; see you at church on Sunday”.
