Chicago officer convicted in black teen’s shooting death
CHICAGO – A jury on Friday found Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke guilty of second-degree murder in the 2014 shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.
Van Dyke stared ahead with a forlorn expression on his face as the verdict was read.
He was found guilty of 16 counts of aggravated battery – one for each shot he fired at McDonald. He was found not guilty of official misconduct. His bond was revoked, and he was taken into custody.
A sentencing date was not set. Second-degree murder carries a sentence of from four to 20 years. Aggravated battery carries a sentence of from six to 30 years.
Van Dyke had been charged with first-degree murder. Cook Count Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan told jurors this week they could consider a second-degree murder charge.
The shooting on the southwest side of Chicago was captured on police dashcam video – graphic footage that appeared to show McDonald turning away from police when Van Dyke opened fire.
Police were called to the scene on reports of a person breaking into vehicles on a truck lot. They found McDonald wielding a knife with a 3-inch blade.
McDonald ignored repeated calls from police to drop the knife. He popped the tire of a police vehicle and scratched a windshield.
Van Dyke arrived on the scene, got out of his vehicle and fired 16 shots at McDonald. He continued to shoot at McDonald for 12.5 seconds after he was already on the ground.
Van Dyke told investigators that McDonald raised the knife in a menacing manner before he fired, and that he backpedaled as the teen approached. The police video did not support the officer’s account.
“None of that happened!” prosecutor Jody Gleason told jurors. “He made it up to justify his use of force.”
Van Dyke’s lead defense attorney, told the jury the shooting was a “tragedy but not a murder.”