Chicago cop convicted of murdering Laquan McDonald in 2014 released from prison early after serving half of his 7-year sentence

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Chicago cop convicted of murdering Laquan McDonald in 2014 released from prison early after serving half of his 7-year sentence
Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke.Antonio Perez-Pool/Getty Images
  • The former Chicago police officer who was convicted of killing Laquan McDonald was released early from prison.
  • Jason Van Dyke, who is white, was convicted in 2018 for the shooting death of McDonald, 17.
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The former Chicago police officer who was convicted of killing Laquan McDonald, a Black teen, in 2014 was released from prison Thursday after serving less than half of his nearly seven-year sentence.

A spokeswoman for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker confirmed the early release of ex-cop Jason Van Dyke to Insider without providing further details.

Van Dyke, who is white, was convicted in 2018 of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery in the October 20, 2014 shooting death of 17-year-old McDonald.

The former cop was released from prison after about three years behind bars for good behavior.

"In Illinois, individuals who are sentenced to prison are eligible for, by law, statutory good time," Joe McMahon, the former special prosecutor who led the state conviction of Van Dyke, told CNN.

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McDonald was carrying a knife when Van Dyke shot the teen 16 times as he walked away from police. The killing sparked protests over police misconduct, with demonstrators using "16 shots and a cover-up" as a rallying cry.

Van Dyke was sentenced in 2019 to 6 years and 9 months in prison for the murder.

"When I think back what my reaction was in 2019 when this sentence was handed down, [it] was wow ... He's going to be out fairly quick," McMahon, who had asked for Van Dyke to serve an 18 to 20-year sentence, told CNN.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a statement on Thursday, saying that she knows some Chicagoans "remain disheartened and angry" about Van Dyke's lenient sentence.

"As I said at the time, while the jury reached the correct guilty verdict, the judge's decision to sentence Van Dyke to only 81 months was and remains a supreme disappointment," she said.

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Lightfoot added, "I understand why this continues to feel like a miscarriage of justice, especially when many Black and brown men get sentenced to so much more prison time for having committed far lesser crimes."

"While I know this moment is disappointing," Lightfoot said, "It should not prevent us from seeing the significant progress Van Dyke's prosecution and conviction represent."

Van Dyke was the first Chicago officer in more than half a century to be convicted of murder for an on-duty killing.

Lightfoot said that the prosecution of Van Dyke "led to historic reforms, including comprehensive legislation that created the first-ever community police oversight body in Chicago."

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