A 34-year-old Chicago man faces charges of attempted murder against one city police officer and charges of aggravated battery against another after a shooting Friday, Chicago police announced Sunday night.
In all, Malik Wrightsell, of the 4600 block of South Cottage Grove Ave., faces seven counts. He was the charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery to a peace officer, aggravated assault of a peace officer, resisting or obstructing a peace officer, and two weapons offenses. He also received a a ticket for operating a nonhighway vehicle.
Police say officers stopped what they described as a homemade or nonhighway vehicle in the 2000 block of East 79th Street. Whitesall fled, officers chased him, and gunfire was exchanged, Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said Friday.
Wrightsell pulled a firearm from a bag and shot one officer in the abdomen, police said, though it struck the officer’s ballistic vest. That officer returned fire, hitting Wrightsell multiple times, according to police. A second officer was also shot in his arm during the altercation, police said.
The officers, identified by Chicago Sun-Times sources as Carl Williams, 27, and Esteban Cervantes, 30, were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center with injuries that did not threaten their lives. Both have been with the police department for four years. Cervantes had surgery for a gunshot wound to his arm, Mayor Brandon Johnson said Friday. Both officers have been placed on routine administrative duties for at least 30 days.
Wrightsell was taken into custody on South Chappell Avenue shortly after the shooting and transported to Northwestern Hospital in critical condition. A firearm was recovered at the scene, police said.
Friday’s shooting led to a heavy police response in the area, including crime scene technicians and investigators from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A mobile command center was also set up while evidence teams investigated.
At a briefing outside the University of Chicago Medical Center, Snelling and Johnson said the officers’ actions likely prevented further harm. Johnson praised the officers’ service, noting the broader risks faced by police during a busy holiday weekend.