Former Chicago police officer, Jason Van Dyke sentenced to six years in prison for killing 17-year-old Laquan McDonald
Former Chicago police officer, Jason Van Dyke was on Friday sentenced
to six years and nine months in the killing of 17-year-old Laquan
McDonald, more than four years after the shooting.
The veteran police officer was convicted in October of second-degree
murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm for the
shooting in October 2014. The shooting and video of it prompted protests
throughout Chicago and fueled the ongoing nationwide conversation about
police shootings.
Van Dyke was sentenced on just the murder charge, Cook County Judge
Vincent Gaughan said while Special Prosecutor Joe McMahon said justice
was served. “This is a significant sentence,” said McMahon, who had
recommended that Van Dyke be sentenced to a minimum of 18 years for the
aggravated battery charges. “I and this team are satisfied we achieved
our goal of justice and holding Jason Van Dyke accountable for his
actions.”
He had been the first Chicago police officer to be charged with first-degree murder since 1980.