Chicago Teen Laquan McDonald Shot 16 Times By Police

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Riots and civil unrest feared in Chicago after the release of a graphic video showing a police officer shooting the teenager

Laquan McDonald

Chicago Police have released a Dashcam video footage of the killing of Laquan McDonald, a Chicago teenager who was gunned down in a hail of police bullets for carrying a three inch knife.

37-year old Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke has been charged with murder. The authorities released the long awaited video after an order from a judge. The graphic video captures the final moments as Laquan McDonald, 17 is shot 16 times in a matter of seconds. Authorities are calling for calm and order.

New York Daily News reports:

The 13-second clip starts with 17-year-old McDonald crumpling to the ground after Officer Jason Van Dyke, who is white, fired at him for the first time.

Then for several seconds all that can be seen is the teen’s supine body jerking as the officer emptied his clip — 16 bullets — into his body on Oct. 20, 2014.

Two of the bullets lodged in McDonald’s back.

Authorities say McDonald was armed with a 3-inch knife when Van Dyke, 37, confronted him.

Laquan McDonald
Laquan McDonald

The teen did not comply with “numerous police orders to drop the knife,” the officer’s attorney, Daniel Herbert, told the Chicago Tribune.

No audio was caught on the grainy video, but the actions of both Van Dyke and McDonald are clear.

McDonald, who had been accused of breaking into parked trucks near Pulaski Road and 41st St., was walking along the road when Van Dyke and his partner pulled up in a cop car, according to court records.Laquan McDonald

McDonald moved away from them, headed west, police said.

Van Dyke exited the car and took a step toward the teen — who was at least 10 feet away, a knife in his right hand.

In that moment, McDonald’s arm jerks and his body spins around, and he hits the ground.

Laquan McDonald
Jason Van Dyke

Van Dyke takes one more step toward the teen, and out of the camera frame.

McDonald is lying on his right side as two puffs of smoke caught on video show two bullets hitting him.

He still hasn’t moved from where he fell and at 9:57 p.m. the dash cam catches the puff of the final bullet striking him.

In the 13 seconds he is on the ground, his body jerks and his arms moved slightly.

Van Dyke is struggling to reload his gun in the video as his partner walks up to kick the knife out of McDonald’s limp hand, the papers said.

The video was released by the city a day before the deadline set by a judge to make it public.

Viewer discretion advised.

New York Daily News YouTube video: