Chicago Cop Faces Murder Charge for Shooting Black Teen 16 Times

A white Chicago policeman has been charged with first degree murder after shooting a black teenager 16 times in 2014.

In an incident that has since stirred racial tensions, authorities approached Laquan McDonald after reports suggested he was acting erratically and carrying a four-inch knife. Officer Jason Van Dyke told McDonald to drop the weapon, but when he reportedly refused and turned his back to walk away, the cop shot him 16 times.

Van Dyke, who has been on paid desk duty since 2014, appeared in court early Tuesday morning. According to the Chicago Tribune, he was charged with first degree murder, making him the first Chicago cop to face such charges in 35 years.

Meanwhile, the city faces a court order to release dashcam video that captured the fatal incident. Chicago had refused to release it for months, but a Cook County Circuit Court judge ruled last week that they had no legal right to withhold it. The judge refused requests to extend the city’s hold on the video, and gave them until Wednesday.

The Daily Beast reports Van Dyke has 18 complaints on his record for infractions, including excessive force and illegal arrests. However, he was never formally disciplined before McDonald’s death.

Medical records indicate McDonald had hallucinogenic substances in his blood at the time of his death. In addition, he had previously been arrested for slashing a squad car’s tires.

With this latest incident of police violence towards black teens, many have expressed worries that the case will ignite demonstrations and riots in the city.

“Chicago is on the tipping point,” Rev. Roosevelt Watkins said. “We could be just like Ferguson.”

You can watch a report on the story in the video above, via WGN.

[h/t NY Daily News]
[Image via Twitter]