The Latest: Prosecutor named for Laquan McDonald murder case

CHICAGO – The latest on the prosecution of a Chicago police officer charged with murder in the fatal shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald (all times local):

10:50 a.m.

A judge has appointed a suburban Chicago state’s attorney as the special prosecutor in the case against a Chicago police officer charged with first-degree murder in the killing of black teenager Laquan McDonald.

At a hearing on Thursday, Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan swore in Kane County State’s Attorney Joseph McMahon to handle the prosecution of Officer Jason Van Dyke. Van Dyke was charged with murder last year in the 2014 killing of McDonald at the same time authorities released the dashcam video that shows McDonald being shot 16 times.

The appointment that was confirmed by McMahon spokesman Chris Nelson comes weeks after outgoing Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez requested that a special prosecutor handle the case.

The release of the video sparked large protests and helped force the ouster of Chicago’s last police superintendent.

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6 a.m.

The Chicago Police Department says it will release videos related to last week’s fatal police shooting of an 18-year-old suspect.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says the videos will be available online at 11 a.m. Friday on the website of the city agency that investigates police misconduct.

Superintendent Eddie Johnson relieved three officers of their police powers after the July 28 shooting after officials said a preliminary determination concluded they had violated department policy.

Earlier this week, the department said it was investigating after it was found that the body camera of an officer involved in the shooting wasn’t recording at the time.

Autopsy results show that Paul O’Neal, of Chicago, died of a gunshot wound to the back during a stolen vehicle investigation.

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