Yesterday (Tuesday), Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, a 37-year-old white cop, was charged with first-degree murder for shooting Laquan McDonald, a 17-year-old black teen. Van Dyke now faces 20 years to life in prison.
McDonald was shot 16 times all over his body on October 24, 2014.
The dash cam video of the event was just released yesterday. A Chicago judge ordered the public release after freelance journalist Brandon Smith filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.
The video shows McDonald walking down the road with a knife in his hand. Van Dyke and other officers stand left of him, on the sidewalk. As McDonald walks by, he turns to the officer, who then shoots McDonald from a short distance. Nowhere does the video show the young man lunging at the officers as they previously claimed.
Protesters quickly gathered on the streets following the officer’s arrest and the video’s release last night.
Obviously, this footage below is disturbing. Think before you watch.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix2N6_jLAgA&w=640&h=360]
WATCH: Dash Cam Footage Of Chicago Teen's Laquan McDonald Being Shot By Cop Released
