Chicago releases audio from Laquan McDonald shooting

"This guy, ah, kind of walking away, he has a knife in his hand."

That's how a Chicago police officer calmly described 17-year-old Laquan McDonald over radio before the teen was shot and killed by officer Jason Van Dyke, who is now being charged with first-degree murder for McDonald's death. The city of Chicago provided audio from the incident, which took place on Oct. 20, 2014, for the first time Wednesday.

In the recordings, a police dispatcher can be heard asking for a Taser-equipped squad car to head to the scene in response to the first officer's request and statement that McDonald was carrying a knife. A call then confirms responding officers are two blocks away, and the dispatcher asks the responding officers to "let me know when he's in custody." Mere moments later, an officer yells through the radio, "Shots fired by police."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The recordings are partially redacted, but the Chicago Tribune breaks down the whole thing here.