On October 20, 2014, Laqaun McDonald, a student of the University of Chicago, was shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer. This past week, during Thanksgiving break, Jabari R. Dean, a fellow student from U. of C. put out a threat on social media. He threatened to kill 16 students and staff and said this was going to be done for McDonald. He appeared in federal court this afternoon and will be held in custody until Tuesday. He will then be released to the custody of his mother. The FBI say Dean did not have the resources to carry out what he claimed he would do and was not considered a threat. If convicted, he will face a maximum of 5 years in prison. The post claimed Dean would kill 16 students and staff because that is the number of times McDonald was shot. He then would kill himself. It was said that Dean apparently deleted his post of the threat not long after he put it up, because the police could not find it. The way they did locate the post and find out about the threat was by a New York citizen who took a screenshot. I think the police did their job fine. I do not think Dean was a threat in this instance. I think he was an angry citizen and fellow student who acted from impulse. I don't think he ever meant to carry out his threat, even if he had the resources. However, I also believe he is not okay. I think with everything that has been going on lately with police brutality has been getting to him. When a fellow student that goes to his own school was shot and killed by none other than an officer, he was pushed of the edge. I think he needs to be watched, and more importantly, helped.
1. Do you think the police did what should have been done?
2. Do you feel Dean was a threat?
3. If so, what actions should be taken against him? Should he face the 5 years in jail? Maybe worse?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-university-of-chicago-gun-threat-met-20151130-story.html
