3 Chicago Cops Indicted In Alleged Cover-Up Of Laquan McDonald Shooting

CHICAGO, IL — Three current or former Chicago police officers have been indicted on state felony charges in an alleged attempt to cover up details surrounding the shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, the special prosecutor investigating the case announced. A special grand jury voted on the indictments Monday, and they were filed Tuesday, according to a statement from special prosecutor Patricia Brown Holmes.

Detective David March, 58, and patrol officers Joseph Walsh, 48, and Thomas Gafney, 43, were charged with conspiracy, official misconduct and obstruction of justice stemming from the shooting. Their arraignment is set for July 10. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

"The indictment makes clear that these defendants did more than merely obey an unofficial 'code of silence,' rather it alleges that they lied about what occurred to prevent independent criminal investigators from learning the truth," Holmes said in the statement.

Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting of McDonald on Oct. 20, 2014, during an incident on the South Side. Initial police reports claimed the teen was swinging a knife and lunging at Van Dyke before the officer opened fire.

Patch Coverage of the Laquan McDonald Shooting

5 Perspectives on '16 Shots: The Death of Laquan McDonald': A ward of the state, shot dead on a Chicago street. A teen who loved his teachers. A mayor who won't lead. Questions no one will answer.

Laquan McDonald Shooting: How Did Chicago Mark the Tragedy 2 Years Later?: Rallies and memorials were held throughout the day Thursday to commemorate the teen's life.

Chicago Cop Accused Of Killing Teen Faces New Charges: Officer Jason Van Dyke now faces 16 counts of aggravated battery stemming from the fatal shooting of the 17-year-old in 2014.

Jason Van Dyke Must Attend Hearings: Judge: But the judge presiding over Officer Jason Van Dyke's murder trial vowed to beef up security at the courthouse so defendant was safe.

Discipline Delayed For Suspended Chicago Cops: The ruling by the Chicago Police Board also means the 4 officers can return to work after being suspended without pay.

But a police dashboard camera told a different story. In the video, McDonald is not seen as aggressively moving toward Van Dyke, and instead, he's seen walking away from Van Dyke when he is shot 16 times. Officers at the shooting are accused of signing reports that stated a knife-wielding McDonald advanced toward police before he was shot.

March had been the lead detective in the shooting investigation, and Walsh, who was put on administrative leave in December of 2015, was Van Dyke's partner, according to CBS 2 Chicago.

Earlier this month, the Chicago Police Board voted to delay possible disciplinary action against four suspended officers in the case, a move that both sides supported.

Watch: Three Chicago Officers Face Cover-Up Charges

Patch will continue to update this story.

Screen shot from Chicago police dashboard camera video showing the shooting for Laquan McDonald. (Image via Patch archive)

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