A white Chicago police officer charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a black teenager may soon know who will be assigned to prosecute him.
Jason Van Dyke attended a hearing Thursday before Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan. The judge has said he will search for an outside prosecutor after Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez asked last month that she be allowed to step aside.
Van Dyke is accused of shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times in October 2014, killing him.
Gaughan has said he would start his search at the Illinois Attorney General's office. If necessary he would extend the search.
On Wednesday, the state attorney general's office would not say if anyone from the office would attend Thursday's hearing.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
