Cook County Medical Examiner Says 24 Holes Found In Laquan's Body

CHICAGO, IL — Day 3 of the trial of Jason Van Dyke, a white Chicago police officer accused of fatally shooting a black teen in October 2014, continued Wednesday focusing on the autopsy performed on 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. Van Dyke has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of murder, aggravated battery and official misconduct. Prosecutors allege that the shooting was racially motivated, and not in self-defense as Van Dyke has claimed.

Dr. Ponni Arunkumar, the chief medical examiner for Cook County, was on the stand for over three hours of intense testimony as special prosecutor Joe McMahon took Arunkumar through each of the 16 gunshot wounds found on McDonald’s body during his autopsy in the hours following the fatal shooting. Reviewing gory photos of McDonald’s bullet-riddled body, the forensic pathologist said it was difficult to determine the sequence in which the 16 shots were fired.

“It is difficult to determine the order that the bullets were fired because the shooter and subject are in constant motion,” Arunkumar said. “The sequence is hard to determine.”

The cause of McDonald’s death was attributed to multiple gunshot wounds. Van Dyke was not charged with first degree murder until 13 months after the fatal shooting. The court-ordered release of police dashcam video showed the teen walking away away from police carrying a knife. Van Dyke claims he shot McDonald in self-defense because he was in “fear for his life.”

Any one of the wounds McDonald sustained would have required major medical attention, Arunkumar said. Bullets penetrated the teen’s chest, neck, elbow, upper back, thigh and forearm. McDonald also suffered a graze wound to his scalp, which caused brain bleeding. In addition to the head wound, the chief medical examiner said seven wounds were penetrating indicating the bullets did not exit McDonald’s body; the other eight perforating wounds entered and exited his body. In total, Arunkumar said 24 holes were found in McDonald’s body.

Arunkumar also stated the toxicology reports determined that McDonald had PCP in his bloodstream in amounts that could have caused hallucinations or drowsiness.

Van Dyke’s attorney Daniel Herbert asserted on the cross examination that the two likely fatal shots were to the right side of McDonald’s chest and neck when McDonald was standing and facing Van Dyke; both wounds were described as “rapidly fatal.”

Related:

• Cook County Medical Examiner Says 24 Holes Found In Laquan's Body
• Van Dyke's Partner Testifies Laquan McDonald Was A 'Threat'
• Testimony Begins In Jason Van Dyke Trial
• Jury Will Decide Fate Of Jason Van Dyke
• Jury Selected In Jason Van Dyke Trial
• 'I'm Not A Racist,' Says Chicago Cop In Laquan McDonald
  
• Police Reports of 'Lunging, Knife-Swinging' Laquan McDonald Contradict Video
  
• 3 Chicago Cops Indicted In Alleged Cover-Up Of Laquan McDonald Shooting

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