Jurors on Friday found white Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014. Van Dyke had been charged with first-degree murder, 16 counts of aggravated battery and official misconduct. He was found guilty on all 16 counts of aggravated battery, one for each round he fired. He was found not guilty of official misconduct. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) called for the public to respect the jurors' decision, tweeting, "Now is the time to move forward as a community." In the Van Dyke trial, 12 jurors reviewed the evidence and rendered their verdict. We should all respect their decision. Now is the time to move forward as a community. — Governor Rauner (@GovRauner) October 5, 2018 McDonald was shot 16 times by Van Dyke on Oct. 20, 2014. Dashcam video released a year after the shooting led to widespread outcry. ADVERTISEMENT The video shows McDonald walking when a squad car pulls up and two officers exit. He begins to walk away from the officers and when he is about 15 feet away, Van Dyke opens fire. "16 shots and a cover up" has become a rallying cry for those protesting police violence in Chicago. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) and Police Superintendent Eddie Jonhson, both of whom faced sharp criticism over the shooting, released a statement weighing in on the decision, saying that the job of improving the city’s community relations is not over. “Our collective work is not done,” the statement reads. “The effort to drive lasting reform and rebuild bonds of trust between residents and police must carry on with vigor.” Activists, many of who had gathered around the courtroom for the whole three-week trial, lauded the decision. A senior adviser for the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who could not be at the hearing, called the result a just one. “This is historic for Chicago and historic for these kinds of police misconduct cases,” Janette Wilson said. “The jury did what it could with the evidence that was presented to them. Jason Van Dyke is finally in custody and we are grateful. We don’t need Rambo cops on the street shooting kids.” Van Dyke's defense focused on McDonald's possession of a knife during the altercation, saying it made him fear for his life. Dan Herbert, Van Dyke's attorney, told the jury that the video doesn't tell the whole story and is “essentially meaningless based on the testimony.” Herbert argued that McDonald was to blame for what happened that night because he was holding a knife, saying “the tragedy ... could have been prevented by one simple step.” During the unfolding of the case against Van Dyke, the police superintendent and the county’s top prosecutor have both lost their jobs, the former fired by the mayor and the latter ousted by voters. According to the Chicago Tribune, a large group of protesters were surrounding the courtroom before a decision was even announced. Updated at 3:58 p.m.<doc-sep>Jason Van Dyke, the white Chicago police officer accused of fatally shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times in less than 30 seconds, was found guilty of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery on Friday. He faces at least 10 years in prison. After the verdict was read, Van Dyke’s wife, Tiffany, wept silently. His father stood solemnly by as Van Dyke was taken away in handcuffs. McDonald’s great-uncle, the Rev. Marvin Hunter, was also seated in the courtroom. He, too, cried. Outside the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, protestors gathered cheered and clapped when the verdict was read. Some chanted “Justice has won,” others, “Justice for Laquan!” One woman shouted, “Thank you, Jesus!” Meanwhile, a large group of protestors walked town Madison Street chanting “who’s street, our street” and carrying Black Lives Matter signs. Another group made their way toward city hall. At times, they chanted “We made history!” and “16 shots and a cover up.” Ahead of the verdict, Judge Vincent Gaughan warned people in the courtroom to contain their outbursts, adding, “If you do act out, I will have you arrested.” “Look into your heart and control your emotions,” he said. “This will not be easy for anyone on either side.” McDonald was shot 16 times in 2014. The shooting was captured on police dash camera video and sparked years of racial tension in the Illinois city. The trial has polarized Chicago and garnered national attention over how to police minority communities. Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder, 16 counts of aggravated battery and one count of official misconduct in McDonald’s death. The judge also told jurors they could consider second-degree murder. Prosecutors argued that the veteran police officer lied multiple times about the threat he claims McDonald posed and said a dashcam video proved it. “You’ve seen it on video,” prosecutor Jody Gleason said. “He made it up.” Van Dyke’s attorneys painted McDonald as a dangerous teen who refused to drop a three-inch retractable knife he'd been carrying the night he was killed. Defense attorney Daniel Herbert told jurors McDonald was an “out-of-control individual who didn’t care about anyone,” and argued that his client was a “scared police officer who was fearful of his life and the life of others.” In a risky legal move, Van Dyke took the stand in his own defense and testified that McDonald was a threat from the moment he saw him. “His eyes were bugged out – just expressionless, and he turned his torso toward me,” Van Dyke told jurors during his 90-minute testimony. FLYER SAYS IF CHICAGO EX-COP VAN DYKE IS ACQUITTED, 'THE CITY MUST STOP' Van Dyke joined the Chicago police force in June 2001 at the age of 23. He told jurors about his early assignments as a beat cop and testified he never fired his weapon before the night he shot McDonald. “I’m very proud of that,” he said. Van Dyke said he and his partner, Officer Joseph Walsh, noticed McDonald walking down the street with a knife in his hand. Van Dyke said he thought McDonald dropped his knife and was “greatly relieved.” But then things escalated quickly, he told jurors, asserting that McDonald was “advancing on me.” “His face had no expression, his eyes were bugging out of his head. He had these huge white eyes just staring at me,” Van Dyke said, adding that McDonald was about 10 to 15 feet away by this point. RAHM EMANUEL LEAVES BEHIND TAINTED LEGACY AS CHICAGO MURDER RATE, CRIME AND CORRUPTION SURGE ON HIS WATCH Van Dyke claimed McDonald waved the knife toward Van Dyke’s shoulder. It was then that the officer opened fire. “Eventually he fell to the ground,” Van Dyke said. “Once I recognized he fell to the ground, I stopped shooting.” Pushing back, prosecutors challenged his account of McDonald raising a knife before being shot. “You’ve sat here for several days. Where do you see it on the video?” Gleason asked Van Dyke. When he replied that the video didn’t show his perspective, Gleason showed Van Dyke an animation created by his own defense team. Van Dyke said he didn’t see his perspective on that model either, however. The defense also called a pharmacology expert who claimed McDonald was “whacked on this PCP.” James O’Donnell testified that McDonald was more vulnerable to hallucinations because he didn’t take his prescribed medication – an antipsychotic and a mood stabilizer. CHICAGO'S CHILDREN CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE: ALARMING NUMBER OF MINORS SHOT OR KILLED IN VIOLENCE-PLAGUED CITY Van Dyke claimed he shot McDonald 16 times when the teen swung a knife at him. Grainy dash cam video — released 13 months later after a court order — showed McDonald holding a knife at the side of his body, about 15 feet away from VanDyke, and walking away from him and other officers who'd responded to a report that the youth was trying to break into vehicles. McDonald fell to the pavement less than two seconds after he was shot. Van Dyke continued shooting for another 12 seconds, emptying his 16-shot semiautomatic gun. Prosecutors, who rested their case Sept. 20, called the 2014 killing “completely unnecessary” and argued that race had been a factor in the brutal incident. They claimed that on the night McDonald was shot and killed, the only thing VanDyke saw was a “black boy walking down the street” who had the “audacity to ignore the police.” Eury Patrick, the prosecution’s expert on deadly use of force by the police, testified that Van Dyke kept shooting “long beyond the point of being reasonable.” “They’re not trained to just empty their gun,” Patrick said. “It’s not a knee-jerk reaction. They’re trained to shoot until the risk is ended.” Witness Jose Torres told jurors he heard more gunshots after McDonald fell than before. “I’m not going to use the word, but I said, ‘Why the "f" are they still shooting him if he’s on the ground? '” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s team of city attorneys fought against the release of the video for more than a year until a judge in 2015 ordered it to be made public. Many activists and community leaders accused Emanuel of trying to cover-up the incident, putting the already fragile relationship between the mayor and community into disrepair. When it was finally released, the video sparked outrage and led to widespread protests as well as calls to gut the Chicago Police Department. Emanuel’s administration was also on the receiving end of a scathing 2017 Department of Justice report that found Chicago police routinely used excessive force, violated civil rights and had racial bias against blacks. The investigation, one of the largest in the nation, was prompted by the Van Dyke dash-cam video. The report slammed the city and police for insufficient training and a failure to hold power-hungry officers accountable.<doc-sep>Police released a video Tuesday showing the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, who was killed by an officer in October 2014. Attorney: Officer was 'in fear for his life' Chicago alderman: 'Trust has to be regained here' Police released a video Tuesday showing the shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, who was killed by an officer in October 2014. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, left, and Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy appear at a news conference, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, in Chicago, announcing first-degree murder charges against police officer Jason Van Dyke in the Oct. 24, death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. The city then released the dash-cam video of the shooting to media outlets after the news conference. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Correction: Earlier versions of this story incorrectly stated that Van Dyke was handcuffed as he was led from the courtroom. (CNN) — Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke was found guilty Friday of second-degree murder in the 2014 shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Van Dyke, who was also found guilty of 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, sat impassively in a dark suit – his shoulders slumped – as the verdicts were read in the high-profile case. At one point, he sipped water from a bottle. He was found not guilty of official misconduct. The officer’s wife sat stoically, arms folded, as the long verdict was delivered. His father lowered his head while some members of the McDonald family held hands. Van Dyke’s bond was revoked and sentencing was scheduled for October 31. He left the courtroom with an officer. Though he was originally charged with first-degree murder, jurors were instructed Thursday that they also could consider second-degree murder. The panel of eight women and four men – seven white, one black, three Hispanic and one Asian – began deliberations Thursday afternoon. “This is a victory for America,” the Rev. Marvin Hunter, McDonald’s great uncle, told reporters. “America was on trial here and people all over America and all across the world have been waiting to see what was going to happen.” Members of the jury later told reporters that Van Dyke’s testimony was not credible and seemed rehearsed. The jurors, who did not give their names, said the veteran police officer did nothing to deescalate the situation that led up to the fatal shooting. One juror noted as “the turning point” testimony that Van Dyke told his partner, “Oh my God, we’re going to have to shoot that guy,” before arriving at the scene. Another juror, a black woman, said race did not factor in their deliberations in the racially charged case. “We didn’t come here because of race,” she said. “We came here for right and wrong.” Police union says conviction will be appealed Van Dyke, 40, was the first Chicago police officer to be charged with first-degree murder since 1980. The officer faces between four and 20 years in prison and is eligible for probation for the second-degree murder conviction, prosecutor Joseph McMahon said. The aggravated battery with a firearm convictions carry a sentence of six to 30 years with no probation. “This is a gratifying verdict,” McMahon said. “Today our Justice system fulfilled its obligation to justice for all.” Defense attorney Daniel Herbert likened his client at trial to a boxer entering the ring with hands tied behind his back. “We don’t believe the evidence supported the conviction,” he said. Kevin Graham, president of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, said the conviction will be appealed. “The Chicago Police Department is standing with an officer we think acted as an officer,” he said. Video of the shooting led to protests, a Justice Department civil rights investigation, criticism of the mayor and, eventually, the ouster of the police superintendent. FACE OFF - Protesters make their way to Michigan Avenue and are headed northbound now. Police let them through this line. #VanDyke #VanDykeGuilty pic.twitter.com/ci0P1xYI9V — Stacey Baca (@StaceyBacaABC7) October 5, 2018 Groups of demonstrators took to the streets for several hours after the verdict, chanting, “The people united will never be defeated,” and “Sixteen shots and a cover up.” City Hall and many downtown businesses closed early in anticipation of protests, CNN affiliate WLS reported. Police said there had been no arrests. The city has been preparing for possible demonstrations in a case that already sparked protests. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, in a joint statement, appealed for calm. “Let us continue to hear each other and partner with each other – as public servants, police and members of the public – and let us ensure our collective mission is what endures for generations to come,” the statement said. What jurors heard in closing arguments The prosecution said Van Dyke fired unnecessarily within six seconds after arriving at the scene, striking McDonald 16 times. The shooting was captured on a grainy police dashcam video. Van Dyke said he fired in self-defense after McDonald lunged at him with a knife. But the dashcam video – which a judge ordered the city to release 13 months after the shooting – showed McDonald walking away from police, rather than charging at them. Before Judge Vincent Gaughan dismissed them for the day Thursday, jurors requested a transcript of testimony from former Officer Joseph Walsh, Van Dyke’s partner the night of McDonald’s death. In closing arguments, a prosecutor said Van Dyke showed no regard for the life of the black teenager, while the defense portrayed him as a police veteran ensnared in a tragedy but not a murder. Assistant special prosecutor Jody Gleason told the jury that Van Dyke contemplated shooting McDonald before he even encountered the young man “You heard what it was that he said, ‘I guess we’ll have to shoot him,’ ” Gleason said, referring to testimony about what Van Dyke told his partner before arriving at the scene. “It wasn’t the knife in Laquan’s hand that made the defendant kill him that night. It was his indifference to the value of Laquan’s life.” When Van Dyke took the stand Tuesday, Gleason asked about a statement he made to his partner as they approached the shooting scene: “Oh my God, we’re going to have to shoot the guy.” “I thought the officers were under attack,” Van Dyke said. Gleason told the jury Thursday, “We know the defendant contemplated the decision to shoot Laquan before he even got out of his vehicle. … And he never adjusted that mindset.” Defense attorney Herbert, in his closing, sought to discount a piece of evidence at the center of the case: video of the shooting. “We have to look at this from Jason Van Dyke’s perspective,” he said. He added, “The state wants to watch the last two minutes of this movie without knowing the context.” Herbert said there was no question the case is tragic but it did not amount to murder. “It’s a tragedy that could have been prevented with one simple step,” he said. “At any step during that 20-minute rampage – if Laquan McDonald had dropped that knife – he would have been here today.” Van Dyke told the jury Tuesday that McDonald’s face was expressionless – “his eyes were just bugging out of his head” – as the teenager kept “advancing” on him, holding a knife. Standing about 10 to 15 feet away, McDonald “turned his torso towards me,” the officer testified. “He waved the knife from his lower right side, upwards, across his body, towards my left shoulder,” the officer said, appearing to get choked up as he demonstrated the action to jurors. The officer told jurors he then shot McDonald. CNN’s Darran Simon, Ralph Ellis, Deanna Hackney, Brad Parks and Sheena Jones contributed to this report.<doc-sep>
CHICAGO — The white Chicago police officer who shot a black teenager 16 times in 2014 was convicted of murder Friday in a case that ignited protests throughout the city. A jury took barely 24 hours to find Jason Van Dyke guilty of second-degree murder for the fatal October 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald, 17. Upon hearing the verdict, crowds outside the courthouse erupted in cheers. Jumping up and down and hugging one another, they chanted, "Justice for Laquan! Justice for Laquan!" Cars honked as they passed by the courthouse and passengers cheered. In addition to the second-degree murder charge, Van Dyke was found guilty of 16 counts of aggravated battery. "This family wanted justice, because revenge belongs to God, and it's God’s alone," Marvin Hunter, McDonald’s great-uncle, said at a press conference Friday afternoon. Flanked by other family members, Hunter said the issue was bigger than the deadly 2014 shooting and dealt with issues of police use of force across the nation. "This is a victory for America ... America was on trial here," he said. Van Dyke faced charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and official misconduct after killing McDonald when responding to a report of someone breaking into vehicles. The mostly white jury was permitted to also consider second-degree murder. The only charge they found him not guilty of was official misconduct. Van Dyke listened silently as the verdict was read, taking a swig from a water bottle at one point. After the verdict, Van Dyke, whose bond was immediately revoked, was taken into custody. The deadly encounter unfolded when officers came upon McDonald, who had a knife, and called for an officer with a Taser to respond to the scene. Before that officer could arrive, Van Dyke opened fire and shot McDonald. Dashcam footage of the shooting released a year later showed McDonald walking away from the officers when Van Dyke opened fire and continued to shoot at the teen, even when he was already on the ground. The video unleashed a series of mass protests and citywide unrest. Illinois Fraternal Order of Police State Lodge President Chris Southwood slammed the verdict. Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke during deliberations in the murder trial of 17-year old Laquan McDonald, in Chicago, Illinois, on Oct. 5, 2018. NBC News "This is a day I never thought I'd see in America, where 12 ordinary citizens were duped into saving the asses of self-serving politicians at the expense of a dedicated public servant," he said in a statement. he added: "What cop would still want to be proactive fighting crime after this disgusting charade, and are law abiding citizens ready to pay the price?" Special prosecutor Joe McMahon said "this is a gratifying verdict" but that "a guilty verdict doesn't undo a crime." "This verdict holds Jason Van Dyke accountable for his actions," McMahon said. "It provides some justice for Laquan McDonald and Tina [McDonald's mother], for Laquan’s family and friends, and it provides validation and a sense of justice for many residents of Chicago and Cook County." Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson called for unity. "While the jury has heard the case and reached their conclusion, our collective work is not done. The effort to drive lasting reform and rebuild bonds of trust between residents and police must carry on with vigor," they said in a joint statement. Officials in Chicago had braced for potential unrest, especially if jurors found Van Dyke not guilty. Some schools made plans for early dismissals, lockdowns or recess indoors, reported the Chicago Tribune. The guilty verdict stunned some. "This is justice, this is justice," said Steve Rogers, an activist at the courthouse. "I didn't think it was going to happen." Van Dyke’s attorney, Dan Herbert, said after the verdict that there will be an appeal. "In this climate, and with this case, I told Jason Van Dyke, I said ‘you just went into a heavyweight boxing match against Mike Tyson, and you went in there with both your hands tied behind your back, and you’re still standing,'" Herbert said. "We see that as an inconsistent verdict," he said, according to NBC Chicago. "We’re certainly going to revisit the issue of change of venue, and we are going to look at this verdict and see what our options are." One juror said after the verdict that they felt it was a good verdict and they weighed the evidence and ruled accordingly.