The Chicago Police Department released a dash cam video yesterday illustrating a police officer shooting 17 year-old Laquan McDonald. The incident happened in October of 2014 and depicts Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times. WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vObQrmsfczk

“The officer in this case took a young man’s life, and he’s going to have to account for his actions,” People have a right to be angry, people have a right to protest. We knew this day was coming. We’ve been prepared for this day coming for quite some time.

“We are not predicting doom and gloom,” We are predicting protests.”-Superintendent Garry McCarthy

Van Dyke was ordered held without bail at a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez said she had decided weeks ago to charge Van Dyke but was holding off until federal authorities completed their part of the joint investigation. Alvarez “moved up” her decision to charge Van Dyke after a Cook County judge ruled last week that the video should be released to the public.

McDonald, who was later found to have PCP in his system when he died, was refusing police commands to drop his knife. Officers trailed him for nearly half a mile, from a trucking yard where he had been breaking into vehicles through the parking lot of a Burger King. Officers tried to corral McDonald while awaiting backup to keep him away from passers-by. At one point, McDonald used the knife to slash the front tire of a squad car that was in his way. Van Dyke arrived on the scene, jumped out of his with his gun drawn and opened fire on McDonald, city officials have said.

Daniel Herbert, representing Van Dyke, states the officer was in fear for his safety and the safety of other officers/individuals on the scene:

“I can’t speak why the (other) officers didn’t shoot. But I certainly can speak to why my client shot, and it is he believed in his heart of hearts that he was in fear for his life, that he was concerned about the lives of (other) police officers.”-Daniel Herbert

McDonald’s family did not file a lawsuit, the city paid them $5 million in April and fought to conceal the video, even after the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune and a freelance journalist all filed FOIA requests for its release. The family also called for peaceful protests. There have been reports of bottles and water being thrown at police as well as protesters stealing police bikes and breaching the police lines. A large group rallied around police cars chanting “16 Shots”.

“I believe this is a moment that can build bridges of understanding rather than become a barrier of misunderstanding. I understand that the people will be upset and will want to protest when they see this video. “We as a city must rise to this moment.”-Mayor Rahm Emanuel

According to Fox News, protest groups are expected to stage more demonstrations in the days ahead, including one at City Hall scheduled for Wednesday and another seeking to block Michigan Avenue during Friday’s holiday shopping bonanza.

While the dashcam video is graphic in nature and, depending on where one stands on the issue, excessive or the culminated result of a frustrated Chicago police officer, the timing of the video’s release to the public has individuals questioning the motives for delay. Some camps question whether the delayed release had anything to do with Chicago Mayor Emanuel’s re-election campaign and his subsequent re-election in April. It is also interesting the decision and statements come one year after the Ferguson verdict. Coincidence? The jury is still out on that one.