Special prosecutor sought in police killing of Chicago teen

CHICAGO, May 5 (UPI) -- The Cook County state's attorney wants a special prosecutor to be appointed in the Laquan McDonald murder case.

Anita Alvarez has recused her office from the case of Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, on trial in the 2014 death of the black teenager. Laquan was shot 16 times. Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder after video of the shooting was released last November. He has pleaded not guilty in the case.

Judge Vincent Gaughan said he will rule on the motion June 2.

Community groups and attorneys have sought a special prosecutor because of Alvarez's close relationship with the Chicago police union. Prosecutors said she had no conflict of interest.

But her motion said, "While it has not been an easy decision, I believe that it is the right one because it will help to avoid unnecessary legal delays and provide continuity in the handling of this very important and complicated case."

State's attorney candidate Kim Foxx, who defeated Alvarez in the Democratic primary on March 15 and is the likely winner in the general election in November, said "This is clearly the appropriate decision in this case." He has "strongly advocated for the use of independent prosecutors in police-involved shootings," according to a statement Thursday.

In court Thursday, Assistant State's Attorney Alan Spellberg said the judge is first required to first reach out to the attorney general's office and the Illinois Office of the State's Attorney Appellate Prosecutor to see if they have prosecutors available to take on the case.

Van Dyke, suspended without pay, is free on $1.5 million bond while awaiting trial.

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating police practices in Chicago.