No Charges Filed in Fatal Chicago Officer-Involved Shooting of Ronald Johnson

.Prosecutors announced Monday that they will not file criminal charges against a Chicago cop in the shooting death of Ronald Johnson. 

The announcement came after authorities released the dashcam video of the shooting Monday. 

Family of Johnson filed a lawsuit seeking the release of the video, however the city initially said releasing the video could harm the officer’s right to a fair trial if he was charged. 

Officer George Hernandez shot and killed Ronald Johnson III in October of 2014.

Police say Johnson pointed a gun at police before Hernandez killed him.   Johnson’s mother said her son was running away from the police when he was shot. 

The video shows Officer George Hernandez firing five times within a few seconds of getting out of his squad car.   Authorities say the officer opened fire only after Johnson pointed a gun at him during a foot chase. 

Prosecutors slowed the video down to show what appears to be a gun in the 25-year-old man’s hand. Police recovered a 9mm pistol with 12 live rounds from Johnson’s body.  

Johnson’s family says police planted the gun on him following the shooting.  

The release of the dashcam video followed an announcement that the Department of Justice is launching an investigation into the Chicago Police Department following the handling of the Laquan McDonald shooting.

McDonald was shot 16 times by Officer Jason Van Dyke.   Van Dyke has been charged with first degree murder in connection to the shooting.