Prosecutors ask Chicago police to release video of shot teen

The dash cam footage showing the killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald in October 2014 has been described as so graphic that the teen’s mother feared its release could trigger racial unrest like what happened in Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore after officers killed unarmed black men in those cities. The attorney for the department immediately asked for more time before the release so the city could decide whether to appeal the judge’s decision.

Police have said the officer who shot McDonald had been stripped of his police powers and assigned to desk duty. The statement says “it appears an officer violated (the public’s) trust at every level”. “In accordance with the judge’s ruling the city will release the video by November 25, which we hope will provide prosecutors time to expeditiously bring their investigation to a conclusion so Chicago can begin to heal”. The city had argued that releasing the video would compromise those investigations.

In April, the City Council unanimously approved a $5 million settlement over the shooting. Specifically, he said there could have been a case to be made if and only if the police department itself was conducting an internal investigation – but not if outside investigations are happening.

McDonald’s mother also doesn’t want the video released.

They agreed the video was potentially explosive. Chicago’s corporation counsel, Stephen Patton, said the dashboard-camera footage had prompted the city’s decision to settle.

“I’m very concerned about what took place and how sensitive people are who have seen the video”.

Since the announcement of the settlement, journalists and groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have sought the video’s release. The appeals court could stop the release of the video while it hears the case.

“Being violent to protest violence isn’t logical”, Smith said.

“I saw the family say they didn’t want it out”.

A Wall Street Journal reporter and the Chicago Tribune have submitted FOIA requests for the video, but the requests have been denied.

A Cook County judge was set to rule on whether the video should be released at a 2 p.m. hearing on Thursday.

After reviewing Smith’s request, Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office asked police in a strongly worded letter earlier this month to release the video. Nearly all shootings were found to be justified, the authority found.

“It’s time for the city to release this video and not continue this fight”, said Smith’s lawyer, Matt Topic.

When another squad auto tried to block McDonald near Pulaski Road, Patton said, the suspect stabbed a vehicle tire and continued on.

An autopsy report showed that McDonald was shot 16 times, including at least twice in his back.

The other squad auto pulled up beside, then in front of the teenager and both officers jumped out with their guns drawn.

ABC News reports that the teen’s lawyers got ahold of the video and stated that Officer Van Dyke open fired on the teen and continued shooting McDonald after he fell to the ground. The data also shows that Van Dyke has been the subject of 18 civilian complaints for allegations including misconduct, racial verbal abuse and excessive force during his career but has never been disciplined. Van Dyke has been under criminal investigation by the FBI and federal prosecutors in relation to the incident.