11-25-2015, 08:21 PM
Laquan was already between the officers and the fence and moving away from officers when he was shot. The third squad car was just moments from arrival (as seen in the video) and heading towards Laquan. Laquan didn't seem to have anywhere left to go and he did not "lunge" or "approach" the officers at that point, as the officers statements' indicated. He kept moving and veering away from the officers. Still, Van Dyke decided to shoot him 16 times.
There was a major attempt to cover up this shooting, in my opinion. If not for the inside whistle blower alerting media to the existence of the video, I think the false narrative would have gone unaddressed, even though the autopsy didn't support the officer's account.
The family of Laquan McDonald was approved for a $5 million dollar settlement within one month of the shooting. They didn't want the video released; the media got the judge to order it made public under the Freedom of Information Act.
Surveillance video of the incident from the nearby Burger King was reportedly deleted by police and police failed to interview or take witness statements.
Anyway, I'm glad to see the protests have thus far been peaceful; hope they remain so.
There was a major attempt to cover up this shooting, in my opinion. If not for the inside whistle blower alerting media to the existence of the video, I think the false narrative would have gone unaddressed, even though the autopsy didn't support the officer's account.
The family of Laquan McDonald was approved for a $5 million dollar settlement within one month of the shooting. They didn't want the video released; the media got the judge to order it made public under the Freedom of Information Act.
Surveillance video of the incident from the nearby Burger King was reportedly deleted by police and police failed to interview or take witness statements.
Anyway, I'm glad to see the protests have thus far been peaceful; hope they remain so.