Chicago authorities say they have arrested a suspect charged in connection with the murder of a Chicago police officer and released a mugshot of the convicted felon.
At a press conference Wednesday, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said Darrion C. McMillian, 23, was charged with multiple first-degree murder charges against Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez, 26. He said he has been charged with the crime.
“This criminal was a convicted felon who was on electronic monitoring out of Will County. Not to mention, this individual was armed with a fully automatic rifle, the weapon used to kill Officer Martinez. It shouldn't have been on our streets in possession, and another person was in the perpetrator's car as well,” Snelling said.
On Monday around 8 p.m., Martinez and his partner responded to a report of a vehicle with three people in it blocking traffic in an east Chatham neighborhood.
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Chicago Police announced the arrest of Darrion McMillian, who is charged in connection with the murder of Officer Enrique Martinez. (Chicago Police Department)
Police said Martinez and his partner spoke with the driver and observed McMillian reaching for a bag on the floor of the vehicle before additional officers arrived to assist with the stop. He said he observed it.
When McMillian was told to stop, he pulled out a handgun and fired, fatally wounding Martinez, police said.
Police said the driver of the car was also shot and killed. The driver's identity has not yet been released.
McMillian then allegedly pushed the driver's body out of the vehicle, moved to the driver's seat and attempted to flee. When officers intervened and tried to pull the man from the vehicle, McMillian backed his car and dragged the officer with him, causing the officer to fire once into the ground, police said.
While fleeing, McMillian crashed into a parked car and fled on foot into a nearby apartment, where a woman was inside, police said.
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Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling (WFLD)
McMillian reportedly found a knife and removed an electronic monitoring device from his ankle.
Police said the woman was not injured and the officer who was dragged was in good condition.
McMillian was later arrested. A second person was also detained, police said, but was later released without being charged.
Mr. Snelling praised the officers who arrested McMillian “in the middle of a chaotic scene” and said they “honoured Officer Martinez's sacrifice and expressed his gratitude for the same heartbreaking experience that Officer Martinez's family is experiencing.” “I want to make sure no one in our area experiences this.” . ”
“I hope these words resonate with you: Take to the streets at your own risk. Officer Martinez and all of our police officers are running into this danger to protect everyone in our city,” Snelling said. Ta. “We all need to be outraged against the violent criminals who create an endless cycle of trauma in our communities.
“We need to be outraged about the gun epidemic that is killing our residents, our children, and our first responders. Anger cannot even begin to describe the emotion I'm feeling right now.”
Snelling was joined by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx in announcing charges in Martinez's murder.
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and crime scenes across the city. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, FOX 32 Chicago)
“While today's charges will not bring Officer Enrique Martinez back, I hope these charges bring a sense of justice. Justice for his family and for all who knew and loved Officer Enrique Martinez. To the people,” Johnson said.
McMillian has a criminal history and was indicted by a Will County grand jury on charges of unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to deliver in January 2023.
And last month, a Will County grand jury indicted McMillian on charges of fraud on drug screening tests and he was released on electronic monitoring. FOX32 reported.
“Police can't do this alone. We need communities to step up. Everyone needs to start stepping up. We need people to start stepping up when they commit these acts or repeat these acts. We need to start looking at our responsibilities to people,” Snelling said.
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McMillian's next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday in Leighton Criminal Court.
He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one of which is first-degree murder of a police officer, home invasion, unlawful use of a deadly weapon/machine gun, and discharging a weapon in the shooting death of a police officer. He has been charged with unlawful use. board member.
