Police Will Not Be Charged With Murder of Ronald Johnson III

Prosecutors have not said if they will charge Officer George Hernandez in the shooting.

The federal investigation was mainly focused on whether the Chicago Police Department had engaged in “a pattern or practice of violations of the Constitution or federal law”, said Lynch here at a press conference.

At a news conference, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn McCarthy played dashboard camera video of the shooting for reporters.

The footage appears to contradict police reports that McDonald, who they say was holding a four-inch knife, had swung at them in an “aggressive, exaggerated manner”.

Tensions heightened recently in Chicago, Illinois, after the release of a video clip showing Van Dyke shot McDonald 16 times after the teenager walked away from him.

The investigation comes almost two weeks after the release of a video showing a white Chicago police officer shooting a black teenager 16 times and ahead of the expected release of similar footage in another death at the hands of an officer.

Johnson was shot to death while running from police, allegedly ignoring police orders to freeze and drop the 9 mm handgun he was carrying.

The video footage of the shooting was sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation laboratory to try to establish its authenticity and whether or not Johnson did in fact have a gun. In March, the department released a scathing report of the Ferguson police force that found pervasive civil rights abuses.

Alexa Van Brunt, attorney at the McArthur Justice Center and clinical professor of law at Northwestern University, has litigated on behalf of victims of violence in past Chicago police misconduct cases.

The next day, Van Dyke was stripped of his police powers and the following week, the Cook County state’s attorney’s office opened a criminal investigation, putting IPRA’s probe on hold.

Speaking at a news conference, Emanuel said the police department’s challenges go beyond one case and he’s making several reforms, including appointing a new leader for the Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates shootings by police. Justice Department officials say they use so-called patterns-and-practices probes to identify systemic failings in troubled police departments and to improve trust between police and the communities they serve.

The head of the police authority review board just resigned.

Last week, NPQ reported on the developing situation in Chicago after Mayor Rahm Emanuel fired police superintendent Garry McCarthy for his handling of the Laquan McDonald shooting a year ago as well as the continued ethical and moral deterioration of the Chicago police department under his leadership.

When an IL judge ruled that the city could no longer hide the horrific video of Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke brutally murdering Laquan McDonald, it was as if an essential piece of the house of cards was yanked out.

While Mayor Rahm Emanuel originally said a federal civil rights investigation would be “misguided”, after Monday’s announcement he released a statement saying in part “our mutual goal is to create a stronger, better police department”. At least five other officers at the scene offered statements to investigators that backed up Van Dyke.

The two met last month when Chicago police released the video of the police shooting of black 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

Last week, Emanuel ousted his handpicked authorities superintendent.

High-profile killings of black men at the hands of mainly white police officers in U.S. cities have prompted a national debate about the use of excessive force by police.

The City Council formed the IPRA in 2007 “in response to concerns about how allegations of police misconduct were being investigated”, according to its website.

Michael Oppenheimer, an attorney for Johnson’s family, called Alvarez’ explanation a “joke”, and protesters took to the streets Monday evening.

I don’t believe any police force in America is as corrupt and consistently brutal as the Chicago Police Department.

Johnson was shot to death in October 2014 after police responded to a call of gunfire in the area.