Protests Erupt in Chicago After Video of Laquan McDonald Being Shot by Police Released
— -- Protesters took to the streets in the wake of the release of dash cam footage showing police shooting a teen being shot by police, chanting "16 shots" for the number of times the officer allegedly shot him and reportedly blocking a police building.
Chicago police said there were a few minor injuries during the rallies.
The dash cam video, released by police today a day ahead of a court-ordered deadline, shows officers confronting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, who later died at a hospital, as he walked down the street on Oct. 20, 2014.
According to the Associated Press, protesters blocked a police building in the South Loop, chanting "don't shoot me" add two were reportedly arrested there. They also had a short standoff with cops elsewhere in the city, the AP said.
Chicago police officials said they were responding to a report of a person walking down the street with a knife and that McDonald refused to drop the knife when ordered.
The video shows puffs of smoke coming from the ground at some points, which court documents said were caused by bullets.
A prosecutor at Officer Jason Van Dyke's hearing said that McDonald did not step towards the officer, but the officer allegedly took at least one step towards him.
Van Dyke was charged with first degree murder and stripped of his pay and policing powers, police officials said today. He was held without bond.
"It's certainly everyone's right to make a judgment about it but I would just state that the judgment made by individuals who have viewed this tape from the comfort of their living room, on their sofa ... it's not the same," Van Dyke's lawyer, Dan Herbert said.
