2024
October 20
Timelines

October 20, 2014

Van Dyke Shoots LaQuan McDonald

Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke shoots a 17-year-old African American, Laquan McDonald.
Van Dyke and his fellow officers report that Van Dyke shot McDonald once in the chest after he lunged at Van Dyke armed with a knife. A CPD spokesman at the scene said “[McDonald was] a very serious threat to the officers, and he leaves them no choice at that point but to defend themselves.”

Thereafter, multiple, official CPD reports found that Van Dyke justifiably killed McDonald while acting in compliance with CPD’s use of force guidelines. The initial reports do not reference a dash-cam video or mention that McDonald was shot 16 times.

Nov. 4, 2014

Cook County States Attorney Alvarez Opens an Investigation

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez begins investigating the Incident. As part of her investigation, she obtains a dash-cam video of the Incident.

Dec. 8, 2014

A Whistleblower Tips Off the Video

IA whistleblower alerts investigative Journalist Jamie Kalven and , a University of Chicago Law School professor,Craig Futterman, that there is a “horrific” dash-cam video of the Incident. Kalven and Futterman release a statement calling for the release of the video. Neither SA Alvarez nor CPD release the dash-cam video.

February 2015

Kalven Obtains a Copy of the Autopsy

Kalven’s review of a copy of McDonald’s autopsy reveals that McDonald was shot 16 times, not once in the chest as previously reported.

March 2015

FOIA Requests Denied

Three FOIA requests seeking information about the Incident filed by the Chicago Tribune are directed at Chicago’s law department, the police department, and the Independent Police Review Authority Board. All three requests are denied.

April 2015

Timeline Heading

The Chicago City Council approves a $5 million settlement with McDonald’s family before they file a lawsuit. Aldermen are not shown the dash-cam video of the incident before approving the settlement, but City Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton says the footage influenced the city’s decision to settle before a lawsuit was filed.
City officials announce that both the FBI and the Justice Department have opened investigations into Van Dyke’s conduct.
In response to a steady drumbeat of calls to release the dash-cam video, Mayor Rahm Emanuel says that the FBI and CPD are withholding the video while they conduct an investigation, and releasing it would jeopardize a fair trial.

August 2015

Lawsuit Filed to Compel Disclosure

Freelance journalist Brandon Smith learns that a FOIA request to CPD for the dash-cam video, filed in May 2015, has been denied. Smith files a lawsuit to compel CPD to release the footage.

November 18, 2015

CPD is Told it Cannot Withhold the Video

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan sends a letter to CPD stating that it cannot withhold the video.

November 19, 2015

Judge Valderrama Orders CPD to Release the Video

A Cook County Judge orders CDPO to release the video by November 25, 2015.

November 24, 2015

The Video Is Released

Over a year after the Incident, the dash-cam video was released, showing that McDonald was shot as he was walking away from Van Dyke, and that McDonald was shot multiple times in the back as he lay face-down on the pavement.
Van Dyke is arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Add Your Heading Text Here