Crime & Safety

Laquan McDonald Shooting: Chicago Cop Accused Of Killing Teen Must Attend Hearings

But the judge presiding over Officer Jason Van Dyke's murder trial vowed to beef up security at the courthouse so defendant was safe.

CHICAGO, IL — The Chicago cop accused of fatally shooting Laquan McDonald must attend all the court hearings leading up to his murder trial, but the Cook County judge who made the ruling Thursday pledged to ensure there was enough security to protect Officer Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago Tribune reports. As recently as last month, the issue of Van Dyke's safety had been brought up by his lawyers, who had asked their client be allowed to miss court appearances because hey claim the officer is at risk at the courthouse, the report added.

Before Judge Vincent Gaughan's ruling, Van Dyke's father testified Thursday that he and his son have been threatened and harassed as they've arrived at and departed from the Leighton Criminal Court Building for proceedings, the report stated. Owen "John" Van Dyke, 75, admitted that they have even used decoy cars in order to avoid possible confrontations, the report added.

SIGN UP: Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.

Find out what's happening in Chicagowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In fact, Daniel Herbert, a lawyer for Van Dyke, claimed someone made "a threatening comment" — "That's the motherf---er who shot the kid," according to a Cook County sheriff's deputy's testimony — as the officer walked through the courthouse lobby Thursday, the report stated. No one, however, approached or confronted Van Dyke, the Tribune reports.


Patch Coverage of the Laquan McDonald Shooting

Find out what's happening in Chicagowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Teen Shot 16 Times by Chicago Police a ‘Modern-Day Emmett Till’: City officials worry violence will beget violence after the public sees how Laquan McDonald died.

Video Shows Jason Van Dyke Shoot Laquan McDonald: (WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO) City releases police dash-cam video of a Chicago police officer fatally shooting a 17 year old on the South Side.

Police Reports of 'Lunging, Knife-Swinging' Laquan McDonald Contradict Video: From the initial press statement issued hours after teen's death to the release of case reports, cops' version of events don't add up.

Chicago Cop Charged in ‘Graphic, Violent, Chilling’ Murder: State's Attorney Anita Alvarez says video of Jason Van Dyke shooting Laquan McDonald "will tear at the hearts of all Chicagoans."

Jason Van Dyke Pleads Not Guilty to First-Degree Murder: The Chicago police officer who fired 16 shots into 17-year-old Laquan McDonald appeared in court briefly Tuesday for arraignment.

Laquan McDonald Shooting: How Did Chicago Mark the Tragedy 2 Years Later?: Rallies and memorials were held throughout the day Thursday to commemorate the teen's life.

Drop Murder Case, Chicago Cop Accused Of Fatally Shooting Laquan McDonald Asks Judge: Lawyers for Jason Van Dyke, the police officer accused of shooting the teen 16 times in 2014, filed a motion to dismiss Tuesday.

Cop in Laquan McDonald Shooting Sacrificed To 'Angry Mob' By Prosecutors: Lawyer: The attorneys for Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke filed a 2nd motion to have the murder against their client dropped.

Laquan McDonald Shooting: Chicago Cop Accused Of Killing Teen Faces New Charges: Officer Jason Van Dyke now faces 16 counts of aggravated battery stemming from the fatal shooting of the 17-year-old in 2014.


Van Dyke is accused of shooting the 17-year-old McDonald 16 times Oct. 20, 2014, during an incident on the city's South Side. Initial police reports claimed the teen was swinging a knife and lunging at Van Dyke before the officer opened fire.

But after a contentious legal battle with city officials that lasted more than a year, a judge ordered the release of a video from a police dashboard camera that told a different story. In the video, McDonald is not seen as aggressively moving toward Van Dyke. Instead, he's seen walking away from Van Dyke when he is shot, and the officer continues to fire even after McDonald is on the ground.

Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder in November of 2015, and he pleaded not guilty to the charge. In March of this year, 16 counts of aggravated battery — a count for each shot fired at McDonald — were added.

Since March of 2016, Van Dyke's lawyers have cited three alleged incidents of intimidation and violent threats against the officer caused by the "intense public scrutiny" of the cause, the report stated. The actions have ranged from a court spectator allegedly holding a sign reading "16 shots and a cover up" right in Van Dyke's face to a group of black men allegedly circling the officer and scowling at him, the report added.

Gaughan has said he will not tolerate intimidation tactics or threats and has created a security plan that he claims will protect Van Dyke while he's at the courthouse, the report stated:

"Anybody compelled to come to a courtroom should not run a gamut where they are insulted, intimidated or even threatened. That's not going tobe allowed in this courtroom or outside of my courtroom. No matter what anybody's charged with, no matter what anybody's done, they should not be compelled to go through some type of harassment."

More via the Chicago Tribune


Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke (left) with lawyer Randy Rueckert during a hearing Thursday, May 11. (Photo by Nancy Stone | Associated Press)

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.