Obama ‘deeply disturbed’ by video of police shooting of black teen
US President Barack Obama says he was “deeply disturbed” by a video footage showing a white police officer fatally shooting a black teenager in Chicago last year.
“Like many Americans, I was deeply disturbed by the footage of the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald,” Obama wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday.
The graphic video, which was released in response to a judge's order on Tuesday, shows Officer Jason Van Dyke firing at McDonald 16 times for at least 15 seconds, even after the black teen falls to the ground.
“This Thanksgiving, I ask everybody to keep those who’ve suffered tragic loss in our thoughts and prayers,” wrote the president.
Obama also praised “the overwhelming majority of men and women in uniform who protect our communities with honor.”
Officials declared a first-degree murder charge against Van Dyke. He was the subject of 18 civilian complaints over 14 years, including the used racial epithets and excessive force, according to police and court records.
Police and union officials had claimed that he shot the youth in self-defense, because the teen had a knife. They said a 3-inch knife with its blade folded into the handle was recovered from the scene.
The video, however, shows the officer opened fire as McDonald backed away from officers. He was carrying a small knife and walking away from officers.
Chicago officials had feared for months that the release of the video could prompt protests that caused unrest in Baltimore and Ferguson after unarmed black men were shot by police or died in police custody.
As they anticipated, the video footage prompted demonstrations in Chicago. Police clashed with the protesters after they tried to block traffic on an expressway in downtown.
About two dozen protesters also gathered outside Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office on Wednesday.
In his message, Obama urged for peaceful demonstrations. “I’m personally grateful to the people of my hometown for keeping protests peaceful.”
The demonstrators urged supporters to join them in trying to shut down Chicago's famous Michigan Avenue shopping district during the Black Friday shopping bonanza.
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