3. In the nearly four years since the shooting, one major question that has never been addressed with much depth is why Van Dyke continued shooting even after the teen fell to Pulaski Road. From the witness stand, the embattled officer finally tried to explain why he continued firing even after he paused to reassess the situation after the teen collapsed to the street. Van Dyke said he continued to fire because he believed the teen was getting back up with the knife still in his right hand. "I shot at that knife. I wanted him to get rid of that knife." The courtroom fell silent during his testimony except for an audible groan from a McDonald relative when Van Dyke said, "To me, it seemed like he was getting back up."