Two suspects have been arrested and charged in the fatal weekend shooting of a young Chicago police officer.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, John Rivera, 23, was shot early Saturday morning Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Rivera was off-duty, having just finished his shift, and was sitting in his Honda with three other people, including another off-duty officer, with plans to go to a nightclub. Another man in the car was reportedly shot and critically injured. The other two people were not hurt.
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson initially indicated that authorities believed the shooting was random, telling Fox 32 that is appeared to be “an unprovoked attack.”
ABC 7 reports that Menelik Jackson, 24, and Jovan Battle, 32, have been arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Chicago police told the news station that Jackson is believed to have fired the shot or shots that killed Rivera. One of the suspects was reportedly a former Chicago Police Department recruit, who was arrested for armed robbery during his background review. The timing and circumstances of the armed robbery are not yet known, but police said the man pleaded guilty and was given probation.
It is unclear at this time if the suspects knew their victims. Johnson is reportedly holding a press conference at 11 a.m. on Monday.
CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.
[Feature image: Jovan Battle and Menelik Jackson/Chicago Police]