Chicago cop faces new charges in shooting of Laquan McDonald
Posted March 23, 2017 1:00 am
A grand jury added 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm to the first-degree murder charges against a white Chicago police officer accused in the fatal shooting of a black 17-year-old.
A special prosecutor and attorneys for former Officer Jason Van Dyke didn't discuss the new indictment announced during at a Thursday nearing.
Van Dyke shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times in October 2014.
The new indictment brings to 23 the number of felony counts against Van Dyke. He faces six counts of first-degree murder, one count of official misconduct and now 16 aggravated battery counts.
Van Dyke was charged in 2015 at the same time the city - on a judge's orders - released video of the shooting.
Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke attends a hearing in front of Judge Vincent Gaughan at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building Thursday in Chicago. A grand jury has added 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm to the first-degree murder charges against Van Dyke, accused in the 2014 fatal shooting of a black 17-year-old.
Associated Press
Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke, right, confers with his attorney Dan Herbert as they attend a hearing in front of Judge Vincent Gaughan at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building Thursday in Chicago. A grand jury has added 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm to the first-degree murder charges against Van Dyke, accused in the 2014 fatal shooting of a black 17-year-old.
Associated Press
Mike Casey with the Chicago Police Board speaks in front of Judge Vincent Gaughan as former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke attends a hearing in front of the judge at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building Thursday, March 23, 2017 in Chicago. A grand jury has added 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm to the first-degree murder charges against Van Dyke, accused in the 2014 fatal shooting of a black 17-year-old. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)
City of Chicago Attorney Lisette Mojica, second from right, answers questions from Judge Vincent Gaughan while standing with defense attorney Dan Herbert, left and defendant former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke, during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building Thursday, March 23, 2017 in Chicago. A grand jury has added 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm to the first-degree murder charges against Van Dyke accused in the 2014 fatal shooting of a black 17-year-old. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)
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