The Latest on the murder trial of white Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke in the shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald (all times local):
10:30 a.m.
A judge has decided against taking a Chicago police officer on trial for murder into custody for being late to a court hearing.
The judge was angry after Jason Van Dyke showed up late to a Thursday evening hearing after jurors began deliberating.
The white officer is charged with murder, aggravated battery and official misconduct for shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014. He’s been free on bond.
Judge Vincent Gaughan held a hearing Friday to consider revoking Van Dyke’s bond. Defense attorney Dan Herbert told the judge that Van Dyke’s tardiness was because he was dealing with a threat to one of his daughters.
He says some students at his daughter’s high school were “walking around asking, ‘Which one is Jason Van Dyke’s daughter because we are going to get her?”
Gaughan said he wouldn’t punish Van Dyke this time.
Jury deliberations are continuing.
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11:15 p.m.
The city of Chicago is watching closely for word of a verdict in the case of a white Chicago police officer charged with murder in the 2014 shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald.
The jury determining Officer Jason Van Dyke’s fate is expected to continue deliberations Friday after starting them on Thursday afternoon.
The Chicago Police Department has canceled days off and put officers on 12-hour shifts. A police spokesman says an extra 4,000 officers will be on the street.
The city saw protests after video of the shooting was released in 2015, and activists have been planning how they might react to a verdict.
Prosecutors contend the shooting was unjustified and that Van Dyke was planning to shoot the teen before getting out of his squad car. Defense attorneys said Van Dyke reacted properly to the knife-wielding teen.
