16 Shots is a documentary film about the murder of Laquan McDonald, a 17-year-old African-American youth who was killed in 2014 by Chicago Police Oofficer Jason Van Dyke. The police department initially ruled that the shooting was justifiable self-defense, but police dashcam videos released more than a yar later showed McDonald walking away from police when he was shot 16 times. Widespread outrage over the shooting over the relations between police departments and minority communities had long-time consequences. Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel fired police commissioner Garry McCarthy, Cook County state's attorney Anita Alvarez was voted out of office, and Emanuel himself decided not to run for reelection. Jason Van Dyke, the police officer who shot McDonald, was found guilty of second degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery. These events also led to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, and a consent decree for a federal judge to oversee numerous reforms of the Chicago Police Department. 16 Shots won a News & Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Investigative Documentary and a Television Academy Honor and was nominated for a Peabody Award.
1310 W Northwest Hwy
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
United States
Google map and directions


