The Latest: Cop charged in McDonald's death appears in court
CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on Chicago police recommending that seven police officer be fired in the Laquan McDonald case (all times local):
6:00 p.m.
The Chicago police officer charged in the fatal shooting of teenager Laquan McDonald has made a brief court appearance.
Jason Van Dyke was in court Thursday, the same day Chicago's police superintendent recommended that seven officers accused of filing false reports related to the case be fired.
Van Dyke shot McDonald 16 times in 2014 and faces first-degree murder charges. He has pleaded not guilty.
He didn't address reporters Thursday after the hearing. His attorney Daniel Herbert declined to comment on the move to fire the officers.
The Chicago Tribune reports that in legal filings Herbert asked prosecutors to specify how his client acted "without legal authority" when he shot McDonald. Also in the filings, Herbert asked prosecutors to identify "the particular shot or shots which killed Laquan McDonald."
At Thursday's hearing, attorneys said Chicago's Office of Inspector General had submitted roughly 15,000 pages of investigative files linked to the shooting.
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2:35 p.m.
The head of Chicago's police union questions whether seven officers recommended for dismissal for allegedly filing false reports in the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald can get a fair hearing.
Dean Angelo spoke in a Thursday phone interview after Superintendent Eddie Johnson announced that recommendation. A police board makes the final decision.
Angelo says the officers must wonder if they can get a "fair shake" before the board in the wake of police protests.
The officers portrayed McDonald as waving a knife threateningly before Officer Jason Van Dyke shot the black teenager. Video seemed to belie those accounts.
But Angelo says officers' interpretation of what unfolded may have been accurate from their perspective. He says "humans" experience traumatic situations differently and that, "contrary to popular belief, police officer are human beings."
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11:45 a.m.
Community leaders are praising Chicago's police superintendent for recommending that seven officers accused of filing false reports in the fatal shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald be fired.
Activist Jedidiah Brown says Superintendent Eddie Johnson's announcement Thursday shows he's serious about reforms.
Video released last year shows Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times in 2014. Fellow officers portrayed McDonald as waving a knife threateningly right before Van Dyke fired. The video seemed to belie those accounts.
The Rev. Greg Livingston says seeking dismissals is right but should have happened sooner. He adds the action gives credence to allegations of a cover-up.
Another pastor, Corey Brooks, also welcomed the action. But he adds there's still "a very, very long way to go" for police to win the community's trust.
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10:06 a.m.
Chicago's police superintendent says he will recommend the firing of seven officers involved in the shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald.
Superintendent Eddie Johnson on Thursday said he was accepting the recommendations of the city's inspector general who concluded that the officers filed false police reports. Johnson's recommendation will go to the city's Police Board for a final decision.
Officer Jason Van Dyke is charged with first-degree murder in the 2014 shooting death of McDonald. Video released a year after McDonald's death showed he wasn't threatening Van Dyke before the officer shot him 16 times at close range.
The officers' reports appeared to contradict what can be seen on the video.
Johnson's announcement comes days after the police department received the inspector general's report.