--- description: The Chicago police officer who was allegedly videotaped shooting 17-year old Laquan McDonald was charged with first-degree murder title: Chicago Officer Who Fatally Shot Teenager Charged With First-Degree Murder image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5e7a64de64eb62db/698872910b72e380a66e6f97/jason-van-dyke.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Chicago Officer Who Fatally Shot Teenager Charged With First-Degree Murder  by [Charlotte Alter](/author/charlotte-alter/)  ## Charlotte Alter Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Updated: Dec 13, 2023 11:06 PM CUTPublished: Nov 24, 2015 4:42 PM CUT  Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke arrives at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on Nov. 24, 2015. Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke arrives at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on Nov. 24, 2015.Antonio Perez—Chicago Tribune/Getty Images  by [Charlotte Alter](/author/charlotte-alter/)  ## Charlotte Alter Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Updated: Dec 13, 2023 11:06 PM CUTPublished: Nov 24, 2015 4:42 PM CUT **Correction appended, Nov. 24** The Chicago police officer who was allegedly videotaped shooting 17-year old Laquan McDonald more than a dozen times was charged with first-degree murder Tuesday, making him the first Chicago police officer to face such charges for an on-duty shooting. Jason Van Dyke allegedly shot the black teen 16 times last year in an incident that was captured on police dashcam video, the Chicago [Sun-Times ](http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/1125196/sneed-exclusive-officer-shot-laquan-mcdonald-charged-tuesday "undefined")reports. Last week, a [judge ruled ](http://time.com/4121116/judge-rules-video-of-laquan-mcdonalds-shooting-can-be-made-public/ "undefined")that the video of the incident should be released by Wednesday, since the city had not proved that releasing the video would undermine the ongoing investigation. Two lawyers who have seen the video say that it depicts Van Dyke shooting McDonald sixteen times, and that the victim was walking away from the officer at the time of the shooting. [Police say](http://time.com/4121116/judge-rules-video-of-laquan-mcdonalds-shooting-can-be-made-public/ "undefined") McDonald was shot when he lunged at the officers with a knife, and [his autopsy showed](http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/1125196/sneed-exclusive-officer-shot-laquan-mcdonald-charged-tuesday "undefined") he had PCP in his system.  Autopsy diagram showing the location of wounds on the body Laquan McDonald, shot by a Chicago Police officer 16 times on Oct. 20, 2014. Cook County Medical Examiner's office/AP Van Dyke’s attorney Dan Herbert said that his client’s [actions were justified](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/25/us/chicago-officer-charged-in-death-of-black-teenager-official-says.html?module=Notification&version=BreakingNews®ion=FixedTop&action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=54959608&pgtype=article "undefined") because he feared for his life. Requests for comment from Van Dyke’s attorney were not immediately returned. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel released a statement condemning Van Dyke, but defending the police force at large: > [](https://twitter.com/dnainfo%5Fbreen/status/669261792774897664) **Correction**: An earlier version of this article misstated the day the police officer was charged. 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