Former Chicago cop that killed Laquan McDonald released from prison early

Former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, who was convicted in the 2014 killing of Laquan McDonald is set to be released from prison on February 3rd, according to FOX 32 sources. Van Dyke is being let out early for good behavior, sources said.

Jason Van Dyke, who was found guilty of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm in 2018, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison and will serve about half of that, with time for good behavior, McDonald’s family told ABC 7.

Van Dyke’s attorney, Jennifer Blagg, told the Daily News Sunday that she had not been formally notified but that the victim’s family would hear first, as per state statute. “I don’t know his exact plans, but I do know he has no desire for media attention,” she told The News.

McDonald’s family hit out at Van Dyke’s sentence for too lenient. The teen’s great uncle said the sentence reduced McDonald’s life to that of “a second-class citizen” and “suggests to us that there are no laws on the books for a Black man that a white man is bound to honor.”

“It’s a shame that Jason Van Dyke has a date that he can be paroled and free from his past to a certain degree and Laquan McDonald can never have another birthday,” Hunter said. “My prayer is that Mr. Van Dyke comes out a different man than when he went in.”

William Calloway, the activist who was instrumental in getting the dash cam video of the shooting released, said the former cop should remain behind bars.
“The federal government has the legal authority, U.S. Attorney John Lausch has the legal authority, and he has the moral obligation to file federal civil rights charges on Jason Van Dyke,” Calloway said.

During his sentencing, Van Dyke acknowledged the teen’s death, telling the judge that “as a God-fearing man and father, I will have to live with this the rest of my life.”