It took a year! I’ll say that again, the Chicago police sat on this video for a year under the guise that they were conducting an internal investigation. But now, following the orders of a judge, the video showing the murder of Laquan McDonald is released.
Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke is credited with this killing and received a 1st degree murder charge for shooting 16 rounds into Laquan’s body as he laid dead on the ground. Van Dyke turned himself into police custody today, but when this incident happened a year ago in October 2014, the police union said that Laquan “lunge” at the officers and was shot one time.
Of course, eye witnesses on the ground denied that claim.
“To watch a 17-year-old young man die in such a violent manner is deeply disturbing,” Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez said. She called the video “graphic,” “violent” and “chilling” and said it “no doubt will tear at the hearts of all Chicagoans.”
She goes on to say that Officer Van Dyke was on the scene for less than 30 seconds when he shot 16 bullets into Laquan. Alvarez also said that the officer began “shooting 6 seconds after getting out of his vehicle.” and that 13 of the shots were done when Laquan was on the ground.
WARNING, Video contains disturbing images!
