Van Dyke's Partner Testifies Laquan McDonald Was A 'Threat'

CHICAGO, IL -- Jason Van Dyke’s patrol partner took the stand for 90 minutes on Tuesday afternoon to describe what he said transpired the night Van Dyke fatally shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Van Dyke is facing multiple counts of first degree murder, aggravated battery and official misconduct. Van Dyke shot the youth 16 times, stating he was in fear for his life because the teen was armed with what turned out to be a three-inch folding knife. A police dashcam video shows McDonald walking away from officers when the teen was fatally shot.

Joseph Walsh was driving the patrol vehicle that night of Oct. 20, 2014, when and Van Dyke answered a call of a man armed with a knife walking in the roadway at 41st Street and Pulaski Road. Hitting on defense attorneys’ opening statements -- that the perspective of the dashcam video differed from what Walsh said he witnessed in the street as he stood several feet away from McDonald. Walsh testified under a grant of immunity, who’s own trial for allegedly falsifying police reports of the shooting is scheduled for November. The officer’s testimony was not televised.

Other officers on the scene testified Monday that they had McDonald contained and surrounded as they tried to buy time for a unit equipped with a taser to arrive. Van Dyke and his partner believed that McDonald was headed to the Burger King, acting erratically and carrying a knife. He said he flinched when Van Dyke fired the first shot.

“I reasonably believed he was going to enter the Burger King armed with a knife and I did not want him enter the Burger King knowing there were people in there,” Walsh said on the stand.

Walsh also got up and demonstrated for the jury what he claimed was an aggressive stand that McDonald took, indicating that the teen might attack them. Officers testifying on Monday told prosecutors that McDonald did not appear to be acting aggressively, nor did he make any threatening gestures.

“His right arm and shoulder came across his chest ... and looked beyond us … I believe the first shot came when he turned his right shoulder …,” Walsh said.

Jurors also got to see evidence from the scene, including Van Dyke’s 9mm service weapon, shell casings, and McDonald’s black hooded sweatshirt and bullet-riddled jeans.

A civilian witness told of seeing McDonald lying in the street bleeding, gasping for air and gurgling.

The trial is expected to last two to three weeks. The third day of testimony will begin at 10 a.m. in Room 500 at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building.

Photo: Getty Images