Gov. Rauner 'Cried' When He Saw The Laquan McDonald Shooting Video
By Kate Shepherd in News on Dec 4, 2015 2:29PM
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says he cried when saw the video of Laquan McDonald's shooting death for the first time, he told reporters at the opening of Google's new Chicago headquarters today.
It's the first time he's spoken out since the video was released to the public last week and he echoes the sentiments of many Chicagoans who are wondering why it's taken so long for the city and Cook County to deal with this:
"I watched the video when it came out last week. I cried," Rauner said, according to NBC. "That video is shocking, terrifying. I cried for the young man who was brutally shot. I cried for the thousands of police officers who are honest and hardworking, who put themselves in harm's way to serve and protect us and whose reputation gets damaged by the behavior of a few bad people. I cried for the violence that is tearing apart so many of our communities. Anyone who sees that video has to reasonably wonder why would it take so long to prosecute or deal with this? What's taken so long? It's a legitimate question for everybody to be asking."
He believes a Department of Justice investigation into the Chicago Police Department is the "right thing" and is surprised that the Obama administration hasn't gotten involved yet.
The governor did not specify whether he and Mayor Rahm Emanuel have discussed the controversial video, which has many calling for Emanuel's resignation.
Emanuel called the video, which shows McDonald being shot to death by CPD officer Jason Van Dyke 16 times, "hideous" upon its release, according to the Sun-Times.