Former Chicago Cop Sentenced In Laquan McDonald's Murder

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, left, listens with his attorney Daniel Herbert at Van Dyke's sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building

Former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke was sentenced to 81-months in jail for the 2014 murder of teenager Laquan McDonald. Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder after he shot the teenager 16 times in 30 seconds. McDonald was armed with a knife and refused to listen to officers' orders to drop the weapon. 

The prosecution had asked for a sentence of 18 to 20 years, while Van Dyke's defense requested that he only be given probation, the minimum sentence for second-degree murder.  

"I pray daily for the soul of Laquan McDonald," Van Dyke said in court. "I will have to live with this the rest of my life taking it to my grave. I was a police officer trying to make dangerous decisions. No one wants to take a life."

After he is released Van Dyke will be under two years of supervised release.

Photo: Getty Images


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content