Ex-Chicago cop Jason Van Dyke appears in court with a scraggly beard to hear when he will be sentenced for murdering black teen Laquan McDonald as his bid for a new trial is denied
- A judge has set a January 18 sentencing date for ex-cop Jason Van Dyke who was convicted of murder in the shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald
- Judge on Friday also denied defense motions for an acquittal and a new trial
- Dashcam video showed Van Dyke firing his weapon 16 times as the 17-year-old walked away from police in Chicago while holding a knife on October 20, 2014
- The video released in 2015 led to protests and nationwide outrage
- Van Dyke looked visibly changed and unkempt having grown a beard after more than a month behind bars
Ex-Chicago white police officer Jason Van Dyke, convicted of murder in the shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald, is to be sentenced January 18th.
Van Dyke appeared in Cook County Court on Friday looking a changed man and sporting a beard, after more than a month behind bars.
A jury in October found Van Dyke guilty of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery for the 2014 shooting.
Jason Van Dyke, convicted of the murder of black teenager Laquan McDonald, is to be sentenced January 18th. Van Dyke (pictured on the left) has grown a beard while in custody
A jury in October found Jason Van Dyke guilty of second-degree murder. Second-degree murder usually carries a sentence of less than 20 years
Van Dyke, 40, was the first Chicago officer to be charged with murder for an on-duty shooting in more than 50 years.
Dashcam video showed Van Dyke firing his weapon 16 times as 17-year-old Laquan McDonald walked away from police while holding a knife.
McDonald was surrounded by police officers on South Pulaski Road on October 20, 2014. The African-American teen was carrying a three-inch knife and he allegedly ignored officers’ orders to stop.
Van Dyke, 40, (on the left) was the first Chicago officer to be charged with murder for an on-duty shooting in more than 50 years. He fired at 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times
But witnesses reportedly say he never threatened the officers or even turned in their direction before a white police officer shot him.
During the trial Van Dyke spent more than an hour on the stand answering questions during a tearful and at times defensive testimony. He testified that he thought officers were under attack and said he shot McDonald after the teen came toward him with a knife.
However, several members of the jury said Van Dyke, as a veteran police officer, should have taken more time to evaluate the scene when he arrived.
The video showing McDonald’s death was released in 2015 prompting protests and nationwide outrage. It also drew federal scrutiny of policing in the nation’s third-largest city
The video released in 2015 prompted protests and nationwide outrage.
In the aftermath Chicago’s top officer was fired, the local state’s attorney was voted out and an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice found that Chicago Police officers were poorly trained.
After nearly three years of pretrial hearings, lawyers spent less than three weeks presenting their cases to the jury.
Second-degree murder usually carries a sentence of less than 20 years. Van Dyke could also be granted probation.
Judge Vincent Gaughan on Friday denied defense motions for an acquittal and a new trial.
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