Barack Obama has said he is "deeply disturbed" by a video showing a white Chicago police officer fatally shooting a black teenager.
It comes as small groups of protesters took to the streets of the city for a second night, reportedly confronted by police officers.
Writing on his Facebook page, the US President said: "Like many Americans, I was deeply disturbed by the footage of the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald."
Activists have compared the killing with that of black teenager Michael Brown who was shot dead by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri last year.
His death led to 15 months of demonstrations in cities across the US over the issue of what protesters claim was ongoing police brutality.
Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times on 20 October 2014 while running down a street in the city.
Police say he refused to drop a knife which was recovered from the scene.
Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke has been charged with first-degree murder.
Prosecutors say the officer emptied his 9mm pistol of all 16 rounds and that he was on the scene for just 30 seconds before he started shooting.
It is alleged he opened fire just six seconds after getting out of his vehicle and kept firing even though Mr McDonald dropped to the ground after the initial shots.
During demonstrations on Wednesday several hundred people blocked traffic on the city's West Side while some circled police cars in an intersection and chanted "16 shots".
Five people were arrested during the demonstrations on charges including hitting a police officer, weapons possession and resisting arrest.
The fatal shooting put Van Dyke's record in the force under scrutiny, as it emerged that he had at least 20 complaints filed against him but was never disciplined.
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