Hard copy page 13 of Chi Trib with this “radio traffic” account of Laquan McDonald Killing, opposite jump page for page-one’s “Black Christmas protest” story.
But the radio account gives new view of what was happening, such as a call by cop for a Taser to deal with man carrying knife.
A minute later, the dispatcher repeats the call for a Taser. “Anybody close yet?” she asks. “Asking for a Taser for armed offender with a knife.”
Within seconds, an officer radioes [sic]: “Popped our tire on our car, squad.” Police have said McDonald used his knife to slash the front tire of a squad car trying to block his path.
Carrying knife, using it, refusing to stop.
He’d been caught stealing.
The city also released a copy of a 911 call earlier that night reporting that McDonald was stealing radios from trucks in a parking lot.
“Hi, I need a cop over here on 41st and Kildare,” the caller says. “I have a parking lot full of trucks and I have a guy right here who stole the radios.”
The thief got away, cops who had responded followed him, he walking with knife, “nearly a half mile,” 40th-Keeler east to 40th-Pulaski. He slashed a tire when the squad car got close. Resisting..
The guy is walking away. Was getting away. No Taser at hand. A public menace. Two pursuing cops get out.
Eight seconds later, an officer yells out over his radio, “Shots fired by the police! It’s shots fired by the police, squad. Get the ambulance over here.””You guys OK?” the dispatcher asks.
“Ten-four, everything’s fine,” an officer radios back. “Roll the ambulance over here.”
The teen was alive when paramedics arrived but died on the way to the hospital, authorities have said.
The two had arrived 10 minutes after the first call. They got out of their car, weapons drawn. One was shooting in six seconds, got off 16 shots in under 10 seconds. He reloaded, his partner “asked him to stop.”
The two could have said “stop” to the guy with the knife. Tension high. Life or death situation. No Taser. Walk up to him? Swing a club?
Overreacted, we say. We are sure? Who are we to judge? Sixteen shots. First-degree murder. Charge filed hours before the video released.
State’s attorney knew video was coming, who thinks otherwise? Get that indictment in, quick. They did it in Baltimore. Do it here.
Don’t they all have Tasers? Why not?
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Later: Went for a walk, bought Sun-Times at 7-11, left it on dining room table while went to daughter’s for Xmas dinner, returned, read Sun-Times account by Mick Dumke and Chris Fusco, who are major-media professionals and it shows.
More later on the difference, which is that this Dumke-Fusco account is far clearer and more informative than the Trib’s version referred to above. Go Sun-Times.
Blithe Spirit 