Crime & Safety

Chicago Cop Accused of Murder Free on Bond

Officer accused of first-degree murder for shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times was released Monday after bail was set at $1.5 million.

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A Cook County judge who wanted to see the video recording of Jason Van Dyke shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times before deciding whether to set bail for the Chicago police officer, did so on Monday, imposing a $1.5 million bail.

Van Dyke, 37, posted $150,000 bond before 5 p.m., according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Department, and was released. A throng of reporters camped out in the dark at the jail to see Van Dyke leave. He and his escorts pushed past them into a waiting vehicle and left.

The Fraternal Order of Police has been helping the officer’s wife, Tiffany, by setting up a fund for volunteers to donate money for bond. The union also put out a request for off-duty police officers to escort Van Dyke after his release.

Cook County prosecutors asked for no bail at the noon hearing. His attorney, Daniel Herbert, said “There’s a presumption of innocence, and bond is not meant to be punitive.”

WGN noted the increased security presence at the courthouse, describing it as “an almost military presence” due to concerns about safety for the accused officer.

Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder last Tuesday and surrendered himself at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. At the time, the judge decided to wait before setting a bail amount. Van Dyke spent the last week behind bars, including Thanksgiving Day.

His attorney has said “this is not a murder case” and told reporters Van Dyke intends to plead not guilty. Herbert said the video does not tell the entire story and does not show what his client was thinking when he got out of his police vehicle and fired his weapon.

Judge Donald Panarese Jr. watched the video Monday on a laptop standing in front of a packed courtroom, according to a DNAinfo Chicago report.

The video was released to the public on Tuesday evening and has been viewed by millions online. Protesters took to the streets in the days after the video’s release. Several protesters were in the courtroom gallery Monday and watched silently as the judge saw the video for himself.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports they cried out when the judge decided not to hold Van Dyke without bail.

This is the first time in 35 years a Chicago police officer has been charged with murder for an on-duty killing.

The NAACP in Chicago protested Laquan McDonald’s killing at City Hall Monday, carrying several coffins, and planned a prayer vigil at police headquarters. The president of the NAACP, Cornell Brooks, was arrested with several others trying to block LaSalle Street. Brooks tweeted a photo of the arrested men from inside a police paddy wagon.

The protesters want the mayor and police superintendent to resign. They say the demonstrations will not stop.


On the day Van Dyke was arrested, a GoFundMe account was created to raise bond money but the company took the fund-raising plea down. GoFundMe’s policy prevents people accused of crimes from using the service.

“My husband has been a Chicago Police Officer for almost 15 years and his service has been acknowledged with many awards and several letters of complementary service,” his wife wrote on GoFundMe. “He is a highly decorated and respected officer. He was in a shooting that has been covered extensively by the media and we ask for your patience for all the facts to come out in the trial. We want him to be home with his family as we go through this judicial process. ...

“With the holidays approaching our husband and father needs to be home with his family. I sincerely thank you in advance for your kind donation. I do not want to have to fight this battle alone nor can we afford to fight it.”


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