Ex-officer who killed Laquan McDonald leaves prison after serving less than half of sentence

The former Chicago police officer who was convicted in the 2014 killing of a Black teenager was released from prison Thursday, less than halfway through his original sentence.

Jason Van Dyke, who is white, was sentenced in 2019 to six years and nine months but only served about three years and four months. Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery in the death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

Jordan Abudayyeh, a spokeswoman for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, told NBC Chicago that Van Dyke was released Thursday morning. She did not offer additional details, including where he had been imprisoned.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a statement to residents ahead of the release Thursday, saying she understood many were frustrated and that a sentence of "81 months was and remains a supreme disappointment."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/former-officer-killed-laquan-mcdonald-leaves-prison-serving-less-half-rcna14752