Murder of Laquan McDonald

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The killing of Laquan McDonald took place in Chicago, Illinois, on October 20, 2014, when Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke fatally shot a 17-year-old African American. Police had originally confirmed that while walking down the street, McDonald was acting erratically, refusing to put down a knife he was holding. Similarly, early internal police records characterized the attack, leading to the incident being judged as a justifiable shooting and not charging Van Dyke at the time. [1]

The Shooting of Laquan McDonald

Police Officer Jason Van Dyke of Chicago started his shift at 9 p.m at the Chicago Lawn District headquarters on the Southwest Side on Oct. 20, 2014. A 911 call came about 45 minutes later to report a person who was later identified as 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, at 41st Street and Kildare Road, breaking into trucks. The 911 caller said, “I have a parking lot for trucks. I have a guy right here that is (stealing) the radios."

Murder of Laquan McDonald

About 9.45 p.m., McDonald runs north to Kildare from the lot and then east to 40th Street. Between 9.47 and 9.53 p.m., McElligott leaves the car and directs McDonald to park, turn around and pull his pockets out of his hands. McDonald did as instructed, and he is holding a knife in his right hand. As McDonald proceeds to walk east, McElligott draws his arm and tells McDonald to lower the knife. On foot, McElligott proceeds to pursue him, while in-car 815R, Gaffney leads.

McDonald races southeast through the parking lot to Pulaski, followed by Van Dyke's motorcycle. McElligott is already on foot. McDonald is stretching his right arm, and a silver object is visible.

McDonald continues heading southwest on Pulaski, away from the two police vehicles. Van Dyke is leaving the car in Pulaski's left-turn lane, with his pistol drawn, pointing to McDonald's. At 9.57 p.m., Van Dyke fired the first shot, striking McDonald, who was turning clockwise and hitting the street.

Van Dyke takes more steps toward McDonald as he continues to fire. McDonald makes small movements as he is hit with more shots. Puffs of smoke rise from around his body. Van Dyke continues firing for 13 seconds after the first shot. [2]

How It’s Resolved

"Sixteen shots and a cover-up" became a familiar anthem from demonstrators that flooded Chicago streets after 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was fatally shot by a police officer in 2014. Van Dyke was sentenced to six years and nine months in jail in January after his conviction of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated weapon battery. Hundreds of investigation documents released in October 2019, championed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot—defend Van Dyke and 10 other officers for using misleading claims to exaggerate the danger faced by McDonald's. [3]

Reference

  1. Murder of Laquan McDonald. Wikipedia. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2021.
  2. Rumore, Kori and Yoder, Chad. Minute by minute: How Jason Van Dyke shot Laquan McDonald. Jan 18, 2019. chicagotribune.com. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2021.
  3. Sanchez, Ray and Jimenez, Omar. 16 police officers participated in an elaborate cover-up after Laquan McDonald's death, report alleges. October 11, 2019. Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved on Feb 1, 2021.