Former Cop Jason Van Dyke Found Guilty In Laquan McDonald Killing

Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke was found guilty Friday of second-degree murder in the 2014 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

Van Dyke was also found guilty of 14 counts of aggravated battery but not guilty of official misconduct.

ABC 7 Chicago on Twitter

BREAKING: Jason Van Dyke found guilty of second degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm; not guilty of official misconduct: https://t.co/KVeHyZ6MQN

The former officer was originally charged with first-degree murder, jurors were instructed Thursday that they could also consider second-degree murder.

McDonald’s killing sparked protest and a Justice Department civil rights investigation after the shooting was captured on a grainy police dash cam video which showed McDonald walking away from police, rather than charging at them with a knife as Van Dyke previously stated.

WARNING: VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES

Chicago dashcam video shows police killing of Laquan McDonald

Dashcam video footage showing the killing of a black teenager by a police officer was released on Tuesday. Subscribe to Guardian Wires http://bit.ly/guardianwiressub The video captures the final moments before 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times. The Chicago police officer involved in the shooting has been charged with first-degree murder.

Van Dyke is the first Chicago police officer to be charged with first-degree murder since 1980. His bond was revoked, and sentencing was scheduled for October 31.

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