The shooting death of Laquan McDonald did not receive major media attention when it happened in 2014. The case of the 17-year-old African-American who was shot and killed by Chicago police is finally getting exposure.
A Cook County judge has ordered that the dash cam video of the shooting be released and Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel has decided not to fight the order. The video is expected to be made public before the Thanksgiving holiday.
"Police officers are entrusted to uphold the law, and to provide safety to our residents," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement, according to the Chicago Tribune. "In this case unfortunately, it appears an officer violated that trust at every level."
Police allegedly fired 16 shots at Laquan while he laid on the ground. He was reportedly walking in the Archer Heights neighborhood and had refused to drop a folding knife after an officer commanded him to do so. The officer opened fire because he feared for his life in that moment, police reports say.

The city of Chicago recently granted McDonald's family $5 million in settlement money. The officer who shot McDonald is still on the Chicago police's payroll and has been placed on paid desk duty until an on-going investigation is completed.

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(Photo: ABC 7 Chicago)