Huffington Post – by Kim Bellware
Note: This video is graphic and may be disturbing to some viewers.
Chicago officials on Tuesday evening released dash cam video from the 2014 incident in which a police officer shot teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times.
Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez described the video footage as “chilling” during a news conference hours before the footage was released.
“I have no doubt this video will tear at the hearts of all Chicagoans,” Alvarez said.
In the video, McDonald is carrying with a small knife and walking away from officers, Alvarez said. Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke opens fire as he stands about 10 feet away, and keeps shooting for roughly 13 to 15 seconds even after the teen falls to the ground.
Shortly after police released the video Tuesday, the site hosting it crashed.
Tuesday morning, Alvarez’s office brought a first-degree murder charge against Van Dyke, who could face 20 years to life in prison if convicted.
Alvarez said her office is confident it can make its case against the officer.
“Our investigation determined Officer Van Dyke was on the scene less than 30 seconds before shooting.”
“Every day in this city, you see thousands of officers performing admirably,” Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said in a press conference for the video’s release. “The officer in this case took a young man’s life, and he’s going to have to account for his actions.”
For more than a year, community members have urged officials to release video of the shooting that ended the 17-year-old’s life. The city was forced to act after a judge issued a court order to release the video before 3 p.m. Wednesday.
McDonald’s family, which received a $5 million settlement from the city, did not want the video released, but said they understood the decision.
“We deeply appreciated the outpouring of love and support for Laquan,” the family said in a statement through their attorneys. “While we would prefer the video not be released, we understand a court has ordered otherwise.”
They family has also appealed for calm, urging that those who view the video “don’t resort to violence in Laquan’s name.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/laquan-mcdonald-video_5654e329e4b079b281897fc2
we are in hell
While there are no good cops in the US, Chicago pigs are among the worst.
Ms. Alvarez needs to watch her back. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Blue Pork Mafia sought retribution against her for bringing the charges.
When this gets to court, I predict that this pig will get off with a slap on the wrist at most. The just us system might even find a way to dismiss the charges on a technicality.
There have been calls for protesters against this killing to remain peaceful. My question is, why should the public be peaceful when the pigs are extremely violent?
Whenever violence and nonviolence come into conflict, violence wins every time. The only exceptions are those cases in which the nonviolent side of the conflict is backed by an external party that implicitly or explicitly threatens violence.
While debatable, I do know Denver cops are the nations worst, I grew up there and to this day I don’t know why the news and the FBI covers for them the way they do? You would think they’d cover for Jew York, but, it’s Denver they supress the statistical beatings and shootings over…..never figured it out.
Plain sad anyway you look at this kids senseless murder. Pathetic muricans should blame themselves for it. BLM is the only ORG actually saying anything about it and they’re all idiots, paid informants and plants. Ooops, that’s called CointelPro, forgot.
I strongly agree the shooting was unjustified. However, there is something I don’t understand from the report. Was the kid actually holding a knife in his hand as he was surrounded by armed cops? If so, he was either stoned out of his gourd or severely mentally retarded.
After watching the video, it took the DA one year to file charges. I guess he had to talk to the Gestapo and see how they can charge him and then get him off.
“Every day in this city, you see thousands of officers performing admirably,”
Admirable to the communists, scumbag, not to any intelligent person.
Tick, tock,… jewb#tch.
Your time grows short indeed.