Justice is one step closer to being served. Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2014 shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. The verdict was delivered before a court on Friday (Oct. 5).
In addition to second-degree murder, Van Dyke was also found guilty of 16 counts of aggravated battery but was not found guilty of misconduct.
Following the live broadcast of the long-awaited verdict, a number of supporters, protesters, and celebrities hopped online to show their approval of the final verdict.
Chance the Rapper was among the first people to tweet about the case. Vic Mensa, who created the song “16 Shots” in dedication to McDonald’s murder, also penned a message about the trial on Instagram.
“We all saw the footage. there can be no justification for emptying the clip for an unresponsive 17-year-old kid lying in blood on the pavement. This was a lynching,” he wrote.
16 shots and a cover up
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) October 5, 2018
Though the life of Laquan McDonald can’t be brought back, justice can be served and we can still do the work and fight the good fight in his spirit. pic.twitter.com/4oeuPixt56
— COMMON (@common) October 5, 2018
BREAKING NEWS: Verdict reached in the case of Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago cop who gunned down and then lied about #LaquanMcDonald charging him. Cook County has sent all employees home in advance of the verdict being announced.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) October 5, 2018
As previously reported, Laquan McDonald was fatally shot on Oct. 20, 2014, on Chicago’s South Pulaski Road, after officers responded to a report of him carrying a knife. In the initial report, McDonald claimed the teen was acting erratically and charged towards him, causing the officer to fire 16 gunshots. The footage was released following his death, showing how McDonald actually advanced towards the teen, contrary to what was initially reported.
Sentencing in this case had not been determined. See more of the reactions to Jason Van Dyke’s guilty verdict down below.
Jason Van Dyke is found guilty of second degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery.
16 counts for each shot. He shot Laquan 16 times. And still. This isn’t Justice. It’s something else, for sure. Laquan will never come back.
— Charlene #Defund2AbolishPolice Carruthers (@CharleneCac) October 5, 2018
Jason Van Dyke found guilty of second degree murder. Judge explains that 2d degree murder is 1st degree murder with a mitigating circumstance.
I needed this. Especially this week. An acquittal would have been the last straw. #LaquanMcDonald
— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) October 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/CandidlyLuria/status/1048286944411746306
Jason Van Dyke was just convicted of secondary murder and on each of 16 counts of aggravated battery, but not the final count of official misconduct. | #Justice4Laquan pic.twitter.com/6h7pWd0LFZ
— agitator in chief (@soit_goes) October 5, 2018
GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY #Justice4Laquan #LaquanMcDonald
— Luvvie is the #ProfessionalTroublemaker (@Luvvie) October 5, 2018
#JUSTICE4LAQUAN banner drop at 35th and Lake Shore Drive!!#16ShotsAndACoverUp #ConvictVanDyke pic.twitter.com/4pXgs2vEot
— BLMChicago (@BLMChi) October 5, 2018
READ MORE: James Van Dyke: Guilty Of Second Degree Murder Of Laquan McDonald