Laquan McDonald

Opening statements began Monday in the murder trial of Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke.

With the trial set to begin this week in the shooting death of African-American teen Laquan McDonald, supporters have ramped-up the protests around the city.

Attorneys for a white Chicago police officer charged with murder in the 2014 fatal shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald announced Friday that they will stick with a jury rather than asking the judge to decide his fate.

Leaders of Chicago’s police union were outside the court building on Thursday morning in support of Officer Jason Van Dyke, who is on trial in the shooting of teenager Laquan McDonald.

Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago Police officer charged with murder in the 2014 death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, remains free on bond.

A defense expert for Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke told a judge Friday that too many people have formed opinions about Van Dyke, who fatally shot a black teen in 2014, for him to get a fair trial in Cook County.

McCarthy presumably would challenge Rahm Emanuel, the elected leader who fired him in 2015.

Judge Vincent Gaughan says the case has generated thousands of pages of documents and emails and that various issues must be decided before a Chicago police officer can stand trial.