Episodes
Jason Van Dyke is being released from prison after serving just 40 months of his 81-month sentence for the killing of Laquan McDonald. What happens next? We hear from McDonald’s family about Van Dyke’s release and their reflections on the last three years. We also look into the calls to now bring federal civil rights charges against Van Dyke.
Published 02/03/22
Published 02/03/22
Judge Vincent Gaughan sentences Jason Van Dyke to 81 months in prison. It means he’ll likely serve about 3 years. The officer celebrates with his attorneys. Young activists are angry and struggle to make sense of it.
Published 01/19/19
Judge Domenica Stephenson finds 3 Chicago police officers did not lie in their reports to cover-up for Jason Van Dyke the night he killed Laquan McDonald. Defense attorneys call her courageous. Activist Will Calloway says the code of silence extends to judges. And we hear from Van Dyke jurors as his sentencing approaches.
Published 01/18/19
Defense attorneys present just one witness and some documents. That comes after 7 prosecution witnesses over 4 days. The sides make their closing arguments and Judge Domenica Stephenson says she’ll announce a verdict December 19.
Published 12/07/18
Attorneys give their opening statements in the conspiracy trial of officers who were on the scene when Jason Van Dyke killed Laquan McDonald and a detective who led the investigation of the shooting. We take a closer look at the judge who will be deciding guilt in the case, Cook County Judge Domenica Stephenson, and her relationship with one of the defense attorneys.
Published 11/28/18
A month and a half after Jason Van Dyke was convicted of murder, three other Chicago police officers face trial for conspiring to cover-up for him. Prosecutors say the officers’ reports exaggerated the threat Laquan McDonald posed. Defense attorneys say this was a “good case with a little bit of bad paper. Update: The trial has been moved back one day to Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018.
Published 11/21/18
On the Sunday after the verdict, we go to two Chicago churches in very different neighborhoods and hear their very different takes on Van Dyke, the shooting and the trial. We hear from Laquan’s friends and are surprised at what we find when we go back to the scene of the shooting at 41st and Pulaski.
Published 10/11/18
The jurors talk to reporters about why they convicted Van Dyke. Activists express thanks for the guilty verdict and Van Dyke’s attorney Dan Herbert says cops are now going to stay in their cars.
Published 10/06/18
Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke has been found guilty of second-degree murder and on all 16 counts of aggravated battery.
Published 10/05/18
Lawyers gave their closing arguments Thursday in the murder trial of Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke in the shooting death of Laquan McDonald.
Published 10/04/18
We examine the defense’s case and hear about what Chicago police officers are saying about the trial.
Published 10/03/18
Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke took the stand in his own defense in the shooting death of Laquan McDonald.
Published 10/02/18
After four days of defense witnesses, one key person has not testified: Officer Jason Van Dyke. We explore the potential costs and benefits of Van Dyke testifying and we look at a previous police shooting in which he gave testimony under oath.
Published 09/28/18
Lawyers for Officer Jason Van Dyke called witnesses Thursday to testify about PCP, police training, and McDonald’s behavior hours before the shooting.
Published 09/27/18
A truck driver who called 911 took the witness stand and described fighting off a knife-wielding man moments before Officer Jason Van Dyke fatally shot Laquan McDonald.
Published 09/26/18
The defense presented a computer-generated video that showed the shooting of Laquan McDonald from the perspective of Officer Jason Van Dyke.
Published 09/25/18
Lawyers for Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke called their first witnesses on Monday. One big question remains: Will Van Dyke take the stand?
Published 09/24/18
Our panel of experts reviews the prosecution's case and answers questions about the trial.
Published 09/21/18
An expert on police use of deadly force testified that Jason Van Dyke didn’t need to shoot Laquan McDonald.
Published 09/20/18
The third day of testimony in the murder trial of Officer Jason Van Dyke focused on Laquan McDonald’s autopsy. We also explore the demeanor of Judge Vincent Gaughan.
Published 09/19/18
The prosecution continued to call witnesses Tuesday, including Jason Van Dyke’s partner the night of the shooting. We bring you more details from the second day of testimony.
Published 09/18/18
In opening statements, prosecutors said Officer Jason Van Dyke didn’t need to shoot and the defense said Laquan McDonald was out of control. We bring you more from the first day of testimony.
Published 09/17/18
The 12 jurors and 5 alternates have been picked to decide Jason Van Dyke’s fate. With only one black juror, the racial makeup is controversial. We explore how the jurors were picked -- and what we know about them.
Published 09/14/18
Judge Vincent Gaughan began to interview potential jurors on Monday. The first five were selected. We discuss what the prosecution and defense are looking for.
Published 09/10/18