Grand Jury to Hear Evidence of Police Coverup in Laquan McDonald Shooting

CHICAGO, IL — The special prosecutor appointed to investigate how police handled the Laquan McDonald case will take evidence of a possible Chicago Police cover-up to a grand jury.

Patricia Brown Holmes requested a grand jury on Monday. She was appointed in July by Judge LeRoy Martin Jr., who oversees the Cook County criminal courts. At the time, Holmes told reporters this was "a grave responsibility" and that she wasn't sure she would request a grand jury.

"This is something that I think is very important to the public that they get it right and that they have confidence in whatever the results may be," Holmes said upon her appointment. "I plan to look at the facts and go from there. I don't have any preconceived notions about how it's going to go or what I'm going to do."

On Monday, she said a grand jury would be the "fairest" way to decide whether any police officers or supervisors should be charged with crimes.

In October 2014, Police Officer Jason Van Dyke shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times as we walked down a South Side street while holding a knife. The shooting was recorded on a police dashboard camera, and the visual evidence appears to contradict Van Dyke's version of events and those offered by other officers.

Van Dyke is now charged with first-degree murder. The video shows him opening fire on McDonald just seconds after he left his police SUV. Other officers had been following McDonald down the street for quite some time, watching him and waiting for an opportunity to subdue him. Van Dyke's prosecution is also being handled by a special prosecutor, Kane County State's Attorney Joseph McMahon.

When the video was released to the public, massive demonstrations ensued and calls for Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez to step down. She lost her bid for re-election in the spring primary.

A U.S. Justice Department investigation of the Chicago Police Department began in December 2015, shortly after the video was released to the public. Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy also was fired by the mayor.

Holmes, a former Cook County judge and former assistant corporation counsel for the city of Chicago, is currently a partner at a private law firm.

Also on Patch

• Jason Van Dyke Pleads Not Guilty to First-Degree Murder
• Justice Department Will Investigate Chicago Police
• Police Reports of 'Lunging, Knife-Swinging' Laquan McDonald Contradict Video
• Jason Van Dyke's Bail Set at $1.5 Million
• Federal Grand Jury Heard Evidence of 'Deleted' Video
• Magnificent Mile Fills With Laquan McDonald Protesters on Black Friday
• City’s Black Leaders Demand Firing of Chicago’s Top Cop
• Video Shows Jason Van Dyke Shoot Laquan McDonald
• Police Union Stands by Officer Charged with Murder of Teen