The Laquan McDonald shooting death case continues in Chicago as five police officers have been targeted by Police Supt. Eddie Johnson for firing, including Officer Jason Van Dyke who is charged with first degree murder.
The officers are charged with making false or misleading statements about the circumstances surrounding the October 2014 shooting, said WBBM-TV.
Johnson wanted to fire a sixth officer, Van Dykes partner, but he resigned from the force Tuesday. The Chicago Tribune identified the resigning officer as Joseph Walsh.
Along with Van Dyke, who is accused of shooting McDonald 16 times, Johnson is seeking to dismiss Sgt. Stephen Franko, Officer Janet Mondragon, Officer Daphne Sebastian, and Officer Ricardo Viramontes, noted WBBM-TV.
Police charged Van Dyke with violating six departmental rules, including making false or misleading statements about the shooting, failing to inspect his vehicle's dashboard camera and audio recording equipment on the night of the shooting, and refusing to answer questions from the Chicago inspector general's office.
The firing recommendation comes after Chicago Inspector General Ferguson had recommended the department fire 10 officers connected with the case. Three of those officers have since retired, reported the Tribune.
Johnson disagreed with the firing of another officer, Dora Fontaine, saying he felt there was insufficient evidence against her, said the Tribune.
Van Dyke said he fired on McDonald as the teenager approached him with a knife and he feared for his life, said the Tribune. A video, though, showed Van Dyke firing on McDonald within seconds of jumping out of his car as the teenagers appeared to walk away.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel forced out Police Supt. Garry McCarthy shortly after the video's release and the U.S. Justice Department launched an investigation into whether Chicago police had systematically violated citizens' rights, said the Tribune.
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