Finally Got It Right! Fallen Cop Jason Van Dyke Has Been Sentenced In The Chicago Shooting Death Of Laquan McDonald

Today is a good day in the judicial system. Former Chicago Officer Jason Van Dyke has been CONVICTED of second degree murder in the brutal death of 18 year old Laquan McDonald.

LaQuan was killed back in 2014 after a traffic stop. When it was all said and done, this young man was shot 16 times while walking away. Footage of the police cam was released to the public incriminating Van Dyke immediately.

And now after 4 years, LaQuan McDonald’s family has finally received their justice.

“Jason Van Dyke, a white Chicago police officer who killed a black 17-year-old, Laquan McDonald, was found guilty Friday of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery. Van Dyke was found not guilty of official misconduct.

Van Dyke appeared emotionless as the verdict was read and he was remanded into custody.

The verdict is the latest chapter in a story that has led to the police superintendent and the county’s top prosecutor both losing their jobs – one fired by the mayor and the other ousted by voters. It also led to a U.S. Justice Department investigation that found a “pervasive cover-up culture” and prompted plans for far-reaching police reforms. Three officers have been accused of conspiring to cover up what happened that night to protect Van Dyke.

Van Dyke, 40, was the first Chicago officer to be charged with murder for an on-duty shooting in more than 50 years.

Outside Chicago City Hall, dozens of demonstrators gathered and cheers erupted Friday afternoon. Marchers took to the streets of downtown Chicago in celebration of the verdict, closing streets. Thousands of Loop workers were told to leave their offices following the announcement that a verdict would be read, packing trains out of downtown during midday.

“We’re not done!” and “This is just the beginning!” Frank Chapman told the crowd with a megaphone.

The group continued to rip the mayor and city politicians, who they say purposely withheld the Laquan McDonald dashcam video released in November of 2015, the same day Van Dyke was charged and more than a year after the teen was killed.

Police encountered McDonald on Oct. 20, 2014, after a 911 call reported someone breaking into vehicles. As Van Dyke arrived, police had the 17-year-old mostly surrounded on a city street. An officer with a Taser was just 25 seconds away.

Van Dyke claimed he opened fire on the teen, who was holding a small knife, because he feared for his life and continued to fire after McDonald was on the ground because he believed he was still a threat.

Prosecutors have argued that each shot was a crime and robbed McDonald of the chance of survival.

The jury, which deliberated for about seven hours total on Thursday and Friday, was comprised of eight men and four women. Seven are white, three are Hispanic, one is Asian-American and one is African-American.

One of the last images prosecutors showed jurors was an autopsy photo of McDonald’s body. Gleason noted bullet entry and exit holes.

“Laquan’s body was riddled, broken and bleeding,” Gleason said. “He even had bullet fragments in his teeth.”

Herbert argued that McDonald was to blame for what happened that night, saying “the tragedy … could have been prevented by one simple step.”

Herbert then dramatically took the knife that was entered into evidence earlier and dropped it on the floor in front of the jury box.

Herbert also reminded jurors that a prosecutor briefly mentioned the issue of race during opening statements but never broached the issue again.

“Did you see any evidence that race had anything to do with this case?” he said. “When you don’t have evidence, you use argument.”

Mmmmm. We’ll let you guys judge what happened that fateful night. Here’s the bone-chilling video.

This young man was walking towatd the fence! How in the world did Van Dyke fear for his safety and the safety of his fellow officers? It appears that he may have been t’eed off because Laquan didn’t obey his command.

Unfortunately, that anger caused him to spend the next couple of decades behind bars among the same people who he arrested on the outside.

Good luck officer Van Dyke, and rest in peace LaQuan McDonald.