Laquan McDonald (2)
Laquan McDonald was a Black teen who was fatally shot by Officer Jason Van Dyke on the night of October 20, 2014. This unjust incident has been ruled as an elaborate coverup by some, and a matter of self-defense by others. Police brutality is a rampant issue all over the United States, and though heinous acts are often addressed, many stories, such as Laquan's, are to be hidden.
Taking place around Chicago's Pulaski Road and 41st Street, the incident began when officers encountered McDonald, 17, holding a three-inch knife in his hand. The officers at the scene then pulled over, when McDonald reportedly "slashed the tyre on one of the patrol cars", as per BBC. Arguing that McDonald posed a threat to his and his colleagues' safety, Van Dyke opened fire at 9:57 P.M.
McDonald was shot 16 times, with shots being fired even while he was already on the ground. Eight officers accompanied Van Dyke during the shooting.
Laquan was pronounced dead at Chicago's Mt. Sinai Hospital later that night.
After an ongoing battle between the Chicago Police Department and the McDonald family, a settlement of $5 million was reached. However, the CPD still refused to release dashcam footage from the October 2014 incident, raising suspicion. After a six month battle, Cook County Judge Franklin Valderrama then ordered the footage to be released.
Upon its releasing, it was clear that the dashcam footage didn't match with the accounts of the officers involved in the incident. In the video, McDonald is seen walking away from the police officers where he is then repeatedly shot.
After this information hit headlines, protests immediately followed in cities across the United States, demanding for leaders in Chicago politics, such as former Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel, to step down. Van Dyke was then sentenced to almost a seven year sentence, but will only serve less than four, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Van Dyke was then sentenced to almost a seven year sentence, but will only serve less than four, according to the Chicago Tribune.
From turning to marijuana to cope with childhood abuse and neglect, Laquan faced immense challenges throughout his life. However, the obstacles he encountered weren't seen during the night of October 20th. In fact, prior to McDonald being shot, not a single word was uttered from neither him nor the officers at the scene. Laquan's life was to be hidden behind a slanted police report. His struggles were to be masked by privilege. His bullet wounds were to be seen as justified. But his story isn't the first.
Author: Imaan Niazi
Contact thettsproject@gmail.com to report misinformation, bias, etc.
Resources
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34917287
https://www.cnn.com/2015/11/25/us/laquan-mcdonald-life-chicago/index.html
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/643309816/16-shots-the-police-shooting-of-laquan-mc-donald
https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/10/us/chicago-inspector-general-laquan-mcdonald-shooting/index.html