Footage Of Chicago Cops Murdering #LaquanMcDonald Goes Public

Laquan McDonald, 17, was shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer in October 2014. The police shooting video is graphic. Viewer discretion is advised.

A judge ordered the city to release that disturbing video by Wednesday. However, sources leaked a shorter version to ABC7 Chicago Eyewitness News hours in advance of a police news conference on Tuesday. In light of public safety, ABC7 Chicago Eyewitness News did not air the video until it was officially released at 4:30 p.m. In the ABC7 report, only part of that video, which has not been edited, is shown. It stops after the first shots are fired and before the teenager falls.

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez described the video following a court appearance by the Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke, who is charged with McDonald’s murder.

McDonald’s family did not want the video released, but a freelance journalist filed a Freedom of Information Act request. The family released a statement, “This is a difficult time for us. As we have said in the past, while we would prefer that the video not be released we understand that a court has ordered otherwise. . . ”

Concerned the release of such a video could lead to civil unrest, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel met with community activists and ministers earlier this week. They are all calling for calm, as is McDonald’s family.

“We ask for calm in Chicago. No one understands the anger more than us but if you choose to speak out, we urge you to be peaceful. Don’t resort to violence in Laquan’s name. Let his legacy be better than that,” McDonald’s family said.

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Peace 2 ABC7 Chicago!!!