Video Of Chicago Police Shooting Of Teen Won't Be Released: Police

CHICAGO (AP) — Months after a teenager was shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer, the city is still refusing to release the dash-cam video of the fatal shooting and didn't even show it to aldermen Wednesday before they approved a $5 million settlement with the family.

The October 2014 shooting death of Laquon McDonald hasn't generated the same kind of national attention as other recent high-profile confrontations involving officers. After some, in such places as South Carolina, Oklahoma and Arizona, video was released that quickly went viral.

In approving a settlement even before McDonald's family filed a lawsuit, some members of the Chicago City Council disagreed on whether releasing the video could spark the kind of angry protests seen elsewhere. While Danny Solis said making it public could "fan the flames," fellow Alderman Howard Brookins said fear of demonstrations or riots shouldn't drive the decision.

"I need this to stop, (and) if you don't show the video and this continues to happen then we're still heading down that path," he said.

Authorities say McDonald was wielding a knife and refused to drop it when officers followed him for several blocks. Another officer who responded to a call for backup fired the fatal shots. That officer, who hasn't been identified, has been stripped of his police powers and put on desk duty, but no decision has been made on whether he'll face criminal charges.  READ MORE