Apr 18, 2022
Van Dyke avoids federal charges in Laquan McDonald's death | Associated Press
Feb 3, 2022
Former officer Jason Van Dyke, who killed Laquan McDonald, released from prison early | The Hill
Feb 1, 2022
NAACP calls for federal charges in fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald | The Hill
Oct 9, 2019
Chicago releases watchdog probe of Laquan McDonald shooting | Associated Press
Jan 17, 2019
Chicago Cops Found Not Guilty Of Cover-Up In Laquan McDonald Shooting Case | NPR
Dec 7, 2018
Dec 3, 2018
Police 'Code of Silence' Is on Trial After Murder by Chicago Officer | The New York Times
Nov 27, 2018
Chicago Trial To Begin: What Happened When Police Killed Laquan McDonald? | NPR
Nov 26, 2018
Chicago cops accused of covering up Laquan McDonald shooting to go to trial | USA Today
Oct 5, 2018
Chicago Police Officer Found Guilty Of 2nd-Degree Murder Of Laquan McDonald | NPR
Oct 2, 2018
6 takeaways from the ninth day of testimony in the Jason Van Dyke trial | Chicago Tribune
Sep 27, 2018
Van Dyke trial: Defense for Chicago police officer puts slain Laquan McDonald on trial | NBC News
Sep 20, 2018
Sep 5, 2018
Jury selection began in the murder trial of Jason Van Dyke.
Laquan McDonald case: Jury selection starts for Chicago officer Jason Van Dyke's trial | USA Today
Jun 27, 2017
In Chicago, a grand jury indicted three of the police officers involved in the LaQuan McDonald shooting. Former Detective David March, former Officer Thomas Gaffney, and Officer Joseph Walsh were each charged with conspiracy, official misconduct, and obstruction of justice. Essentially, the indictment alleges that the three conspired to cover up the shooting of McDonald to protect the shooter, Jason Van Dyke.
Jan 13, 2017
In a press release entitled "Justice Department Announces Findings of Investigation into Chicago Police Department", the U.S. Department of Justice released the results of its investigation into the Chicago Police Department.
The Justice Department announced today that it has found reasonable cause to believe that the Chicago Police Department (CPD) engages in a pattern or practice of using force, including deadly force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. The department found that CPD officers' practices unnecessarily endanger themselves and result in unnecessary and avoidable uses of force. The pattern or practice results from systemic deficiencies in training and accountability, including the failure to train officers in de-escalation and the failure to conduct meaningful investigations of uses of force.
The department found that CPD's pattern or practice of unconstitutional force is largely attributable to deficiencies in its accountability systems and in how it investigates uses of force, responds to allegations of misconduct, trains and supervises officers, and collects and reports data on officer use of force. The department also found that the lack of effective community-oriented policing strategies and insufficient support for officer wellness and safety contributed to the pattern or practice of unconstitutional force.
In addition, the department also identified serious concerns about the prevalence of racially discriminatory conduct by some CPD officers and the degree to which that conduct is tolerated and in some respects caused by deficiencies in CPD's systems of training, supervision and accountability. The department's findings further note that the impact of CPD's pattern or practice of unreasonable force falls heaviest on predominantly black and Latino neighborhoods, such that restoring police-community trust will require remedies addressing both discriminatory conduct and the disproportionality of illegal and unconstitutional patterns of force on minority communities.
In the agreement in principle, the Justice Department and the city of Chicago agreed that compliance with the consent decree will be reviewed by an independent monitor. The agreement in principle provides a general framework for change, but the department will be doing community outreach to solicit input in developing comprehensive reforms. In the days ahead, the department will continue speaking to local authorities, officers and ordinary citizens to gather their perspectives about the challenges facing the city – and the changes needed to address them. Comments from the public may be provided by email to Community.CPD@crt.usdoj.gov.
Report Says Chicago Police Violated Civil Rights for Years | ABC News
Aug 18, 2016
Chicago Superintendent of Police Eddie Johnson announced plans to seek the firing of seven Chicago police officers who allegedly lied about the Laquan McDonald shooting.
Top cop seeks to fire 7 officers for lying about Laquan McDonald shooting | Chicago Tribune
Dec 29, 2015
In Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago, Officer Jason Van Dyke entered a plea of not guilty at his arraignment. The next hearing is scheduled for January 29, 2016.
Jason Van Dyke pleads not guilty in Laquan McDonald murder | ABC News
Dec 10, 2015
About 100 medical students staged a "die-in" protest at Chicago City Hall, lying on the sidewalk in silence for 16 minutes (a reference to the number of times LaQuan McDonald was shot). The medical students want Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to resign.
Chicago protesters stage 'die-in' at City Hall | ABC News
Dec 9, 2015
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel delivered a speech to the Chicago City Council. In the speech Emanual apologized for the police shooting of LaQuan McDonald. He talked about police corruption and the police "code of silence" which encourages cover-ups. He said police need better oversight and talked about the lack of discipline for excessive police use of force. He said he would end police brutality and apologized for not addressing the issue sooner.
Emanuel apologizes for Laquan McDonald police shooting | Chicago Tribune
About 1,000 protesters marched through downtown Chicago calling for the resignation of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Chicago Protests Call for Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Resignation | NBC News
Dec 7, 2015
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into the Chicago Police Department.
The department's investigation of CPD will seek to determine whether there are systemic violations of the Constitution or federal law by officers of CPD. The investigation will focus on CPD's use of force, including racial, ethnic and other disparities in use of force, and its systems of accountability.
During the course of the investigation, the Justice Department will consider all relevant information, particularly the CPD's policies, training and practices related to using, reporting, investigating and reviewing force. The Justice Department will also look into CPD's practices related to disciplinary and other corrective action; and its practices related to intake and handling of allegations of misconduct.
As part of the investigation the department will gather information directly from police officers and local officials; community members, and other criminal justice stake holders, such as public defenders and prosecutors. The department will also observe officer activities through ride-alongs and other means; as well as review documents and specific incidents that are relevant to the investigation. Pattern or practice investigations of police departments do not assess individual cases for potential criminal violations; instead they look at incidents for patterns created by systems and practices.
Source:
Office of the Attorney General. (December 7, 2015). "Justice Department Opens Pattern or Practice Investigation into the Chicago Police Department". U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
US Dept. of Justice investigating Chicago Police Department | ABC News
Feds to conduct civil rights probe of Chicago police | Chicago Tribune
Dec 5, 2015
Reports released by Chicago Police show that Officer Jason Van Dyke and at least five other officers claim that LaQuan McDonald moved or turned threateningly toward officers.
Laquan McDonald police reports differ dramatically from video | Chicago Tribune
Dec 1, 2015
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel fired Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.
Lisa Madigan, the Attorney General for the state of Illinois, asked the U.S. Department of Justice to launch a civil rights investigation into the use of deadly force by the Chicago Police Department and the department's review of deadly force cases.
Locke Bowman, Executive Director of the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center, said that despite over a dozen complaints about Officer Jason Van Dyke, the City of Chicago Independent Police Review Authority (responsible for investigating allegations of police misconduct) has never disciplined Van Dyke.
Source:
Ruthhart, Bill; Heinzmann, David. (December 1, 2015). "Emanuel dismisses top cop Garry McCarthy amid pressure for change". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-12-02.
Nov 27, 2015
About 1,000 people, including the Reverend Jesse Jackson, former Chicago mayoral candidate and Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, and U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush and Danny Davis, marched on Chicago's North Michigan Avenue, blocking traffic and store entrances.
Hundreds close stores, march on Mag Mile to protest Laquan McDonald killing | Chicago Tribune
Nov 26, 2015
Four people were arrested on the second night of Laquan McDonald shooting protests in Chicago. Protesters chanted "16 shots".
4 arrested in 2nd night of Laquan McDonald shooting protests | Chicago Tribune
Nov 25, 2015
Over a 14-year period, Officer Jason Van Dyke was the subject of 18 civilian complaints, including allegations that he used racial epithets and excessive force.
Chicago Officer Who Shot Teen Amassed 18 Civilian Complaints | ABC News
Nov 24, 2015
In Chicago, Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder in the October 20, 2014 shooting death of LaQuan McDonald. Van Dyke has been on paid desk-duty since the shooting.
Dash-cam video shows LaQuan with what appears to be a knife in his right hand, walking away from officers on a street, when he is shot repeatedly, even after he is down on the ground after the initial shots.
Police say that LaQuan lunged at them with a knife prior to the shooting and that he was shot in self-defense.
An autopsy revealed that LaqQuan had been shot 16 times.
View the dash-cam video here.
Chicago Cop in Dash-Cam Video Charged With Murder in Teen's Fatal Shooting | NBC News
Chicago Protests Mostly Peaceful After Video of Police Shooting Is Released | The New York Times
Alvarez Addresses Missing Minutes From Security Video in Laquan McDonald Case | NBC News
Apr 15, 2015
The Chicago City Council approved a $5 million dollar settlement with the family of LaQuan McDonald. No lawsuit was filed by the family, and the settlement insures that the family will not sue.
City Council approves $5 million settlement stemming from fatal police shooting | Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago poised to pay $5 million to family of teen shot 16 times by police | Chicago Tribune
Chicago Pays $5 Million to Family of Black Teenager Killed by Officer | The New York Times
Oct 20, 2014
Responding to a call about a man with a knife who was breaking into cars, Chicago Police shot and killed LaQuan McDonald, a 17-year-old Black male.
Teen Shot, Killed by Police Officer on Chicago's Southwest Side | NBC News