WARNING: (Graphic Video) Video Released of Chicago Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting

WARNING: The video is graphic and shows 17-year-old Laquan McDonald being shot and killed. 

Chicago officials released a video of a white police officer shooting a black teen in October of 2014. 

The move comes following a judge’s order last week to release the squad car dash-cam footage. 

17-year-old Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke. 

Van Dyke was charged earlier Tuesday with first degree murder. 

Dash-cam video captured the shooting.  It first shows Laquan McDonald walking down a four-lane street with police vehicles stopped in the middle of the roadway. 

McDonald was carrying a 3-inch knife and walking away from officers who had their guns drawn. 

Van Dyke then fired from close range almost immediately.McDonald falls down after being shot by the officer. Van Dyke kept shooting after the teen fell to the ground. 

In the final moments, an officer is seen kicking something out of McDonald’s hand.

The video has no audio.

Van Dyke’s attorney maintains that his client acted lawfully, and that he feared for his life.  

Protests erupted following the release of the video.  Several hundred people were blocking traffic on the city’s West Side.   Some circled police cars and chanted “16 shots”.  

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says the department is prepared to handle the protests and urged them to remain peaceful. 

Van Dyke  is the first on-duty Chicago officer to be charged with first degree murder.