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A podcast about the fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald, the trial of Officer Jason Van Dyke, and the troubled relationship between African-Americans and the Chicago Police Department. Brought to you by WBEZ Chicago and The Chicago Tribune

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About

In October of 2014, a white police officer fatally shot a black teenager on the streets of Chicago. The shooting of Laquan McDonald was captured on video, and sparked outrage across the city. Chicago’s top cop was fired, the local state’s attorney was voted out, and the feds were sent in to investigate the culture at the police department. Now, the police officer at the center of the shooting, Jason Van Dyke, is on trial for murder. WBEZ and the Chicago Tribune look at how Van Dyke and McDonald intersected that night, the alleged cover-up, and the long history of friction between African-Americans and the Chicago Police Department. Click here for more background on the trial, the video, and the people at the heart of this case

Recent

  • Ep 30: 81 Months

    Judge Vincent Gaughan sentences Jason Van Dyke to 81 months in prison. It means he’ll likely serve about 3 years. The officer celebrates with his attorneys. Young activists are angry and struggle to …

    Listen — 18:27

  • Ep 29: Not Guilty

    Judge Domenica Stephenson finds 3 Chicago police officers did not lie in their reports to cover-up for Jason Van Dyke the night he killed Laquan McDonald. Defense attorneys call her courageous. …

    Listen — 17:23

  • Ep 28: Consensus or Conspiracy?

    Defense attorneys present just one witness and some documents. That comes after 7 prosecution witnesses over 4 days. The sides make their closing arguments and Judge Domenica Stephenson says she’ll …

    Listen — 20:48

  • Ep 27: Cover-up Trial Begins

    Attorneys give their opening statements in the conspiracy trial of officers who were on the scene when Jason Van Dyke killed Laquan McDonald and a detective who led the investigation of the …

    Listen — 15:56

  • Ep 26: Bad Paper

    A month and a half after Jason Van Dyke was convicted of murder, three other Chicago police officers face charges of conspiring to cover-up for him. Prosecutors say the officers’ reports exaggerated …

    Listen — 13:30

  • Ep 25: Benedictions

    On the Sunday after the verdict, we go to two Chicago churches in very different neighborhoods and hear their very different takes on Van Dyke, the shooting and the trial. We hear from Laquan’s …

    Listen — 23:46

  • Ep 24: Inside The Jury Room

    The jurors talk to reporters about why they convicted Van Dyke. Activists express thanks for the guilty verdict and Van Dyke’s attorney Dan Herbert says cops are now going to stay in their cars.

    Listen — 14:28

  • Ep 23: Guilty Of Second-Degree Murder

    Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke has been found guilty of second-degree murder and on all 16 counts of aggravated battery.

    Listen — 17:55

  • Ep 22: Closing Arguments

    Lawyers gave their closing arguments Thursday in the murder trial of CPD Officer Jason Van Dyke in the shooting death of Laquan McDonald.

    Listen — 25:28

  • Ep 21: The Defense Rests

    We examine the defense’s case and hear about what Chicago police officers are saying about the trial.

    Listen — 28:10