Sounds About White: Ex-Cop Who Murdered Laquan McDonald To Leave Prison Early After Serving Less Than Half His Sentence

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke and his attorney Daniel Herbert attend Van Dyke’s sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building January 18, 2019, in Chicago. | Source: Pool / Getty
There’s really no need to fear that Black people will become complacent in the fight against systemic racism and racism in policing. Anytime there’s even a chance we might become comfortable in thinking our lives are beginning to matter in America or that the tide is turning and brutal police officers are being brought to justice (e.g. the convictions of Derek Chauvin, Kim Potter and the men who lynched Ahmaud Arbery), it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing stories that remind us how easy it still is for things to go the other way.
Exhibit A: Laquan McDonald‘s killer will be out of prison soon.
MORE: After Alleged Prison Beat Down, Jason Van Dyke’s Wife ‘Fears For His Life’
According to the Associated Press, ex-Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke is set to be released from prison next month, meaning he will be free after having served less than half of the 81-month sentence he got three years ago after he was found guilty of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery for fatally shooting a Black teenager.
Understand this: 81 months (or just under 7 years) was already a light sentence for a cop who shot a 17-year-old 16 times with many of the shots fired after Laquan’s body was already on the ground. Now, Van Dyke, who appealed his conviction but abandoned all appellate hope in 2020, is getting his time more than cut in half for *checks notes* good behavior. (I guess he managed not to shank a Black person 16 times while in prison.)
“I’m hoping he’s learned the errors of his ways,” Laquan’s great uncle, Rev. Marvin Hunter, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I have always asked for justice and not revenge. We got as much justice you could get with the players that were there at the time he was on trial.”
It’s troubling when Black people are compelled to be so forgiving. Imagine having to settle for the far-fetched possibility that a cop “learned the errors of his ways,” because a Black victim “got as much justice you could get” in an America that continues to be the same old America.
Chauvin, Potter and the McMichaels be damned—we still have a long way to go in the fight to ensure Black lives, indeed, matter.
SEE ALSO:
After Nearly 5 Years, Chicago Finally Fires 4 Cops Who Reportedly Covered Up LaQuan McDonald Shooting
Rahm Emanuel’s Reaction To Jussie Smollett Is Further Insult For Laquan McDonald
ON OFFICERS FOUND NOT GUILTY: William Calloway, an activist who pushed to have Laquan McDonald tape released: "To the black community, I know this hurts. We know this was a cover up. I'm not saying take to the streets anymore. It's time for us to take to the polls."
How can they be acquitted of "trying to cover up the fatal police shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald" when they in fact ["allegedly"], covered up the fatal police shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald??

MAKE IT MAKE SENSE! #LaquanMcDonald https://t.co/d8z69r2OgH
ALSO! Remember the name Domenica Stephenson. Vote her out next election. She’s as guilty and complicit in the police cover up of Laquan McDonald’s murder as the Jason Van Dyke & the rest of the officers. https://t.co/IVkLwyBELh
This is bullshit. They falsified police reports to protect one of their own. They lied on Laquan McDonald who couldn’t testify to the truth because he was murdered. The Chicago Police Department is the LARGEST GANG IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO. https://t.co/IVkLwyBELh
Our civil justice system is fraying badly around the edge, due to such abhorrent judicial malfeasance. The rule of law in this case and others, is severely wanting. By doing such takes away the remaining civil rights afforded to Laquan McDonald whose life was cut short needlessly
Our civil justice system is fraying badly around the edge, due to such abhorrent judicial malfeasance. The rule of law in this case and others, is severely wanting. By doing such takes away the remaining civil rights afforded to Laquan McDonald whose life was cut short needlessly
I'm outraged yet never baffled at the justice system on this Laquan Mcdonald case.
Three police officers in Chicago were acquitted on Thursday despite a video proving they lied to help cover up the cold-blooded murder of an unarmed Black teenager in 2014. Officer Thomas Gaffney, former Detective David March and ex-Officer Joseph Walsh were accused of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and official misconduct for providing accounts that were inconsistent with a damning video of the shooting of Laquan McDonald. https://twitter.com/AP/status/1085995311854743553 Still, they were found not guilty for their roles surrounding the 17-year-old’s murder. The three men all said Jason Van Dyke, who was convicted in October for murdering McDonald, was justified in shooting the teenager 16 times within 14 seconds. Walsh, Van Dyke’s partner the night of the shooting, even said: “McDonald was walking toward Van Dyke and with his arms raised when he was shot.” The video would later contradict that account, showing Walsh lied. Still, he and his co-defendants were acquitted. The video was released one year after McDonald’s death and showed the teen walked away. He continued to be shot when he fell to the ground. https://twitter.com/BarbMarkoffABC7/status/1086007135404769280 The acquittals may have provided a hint at what type of sentence Van Dyke would receive. According to court documents filed Monday, special prosecutor Joseph McMahon “indicated he would not take a hard-line position at sentencing,” the Chicago Tribune reported. Van Dyke, who was found guilty of second-degree murder and 16 different counts of aggravated battery for each bullet he shot, was scheduled to be sentenced Friday. Originally, it was believed Van Dyke would receive a minimum of 96 years. However, his 12-year-old daughter wrote a letter to the judge saying, “I have been bullied at school about what has happened. Kids come up to me and say that my dad is a murderer. That hurts so much when people say that to me. My dad is not that.” Now, he may only be sentenced to 18 years. “McMahon gave his blessing for a sentence that could restore Van Dyke’s freedom while he’s still young enough to rebuild his life,” the Chicago Tribune explained. “While outlining a way for Van Dyke to be sentenced to as little as 18 years in prison, McMahon did not make a specific recommendation as to how many years the ex-officer should be incarcerated.” The defense was asking for probation instead of any jail time. A jury of eight women and four men — seven of them white, one Black, three Hispanic and one Asian — found the former officer guilty, which immediately revoked Van Dyke’s bail. The acquittals sparked widespread condemnation across social media with many citing the unfortunate reality that justice for Black people in America is routinely deferred.
Sounds About White: Ex-Cop Who Murdered Laquan McDonald To Leave Prison Early After Serving Less Than Half His Sentence was originally published on newsone.com