21-time convicted felon shot man during robbery attempt outside Maxwell Polish, prosecutors say

Man with 21 Felony Convictions Charged with Attempted Murder in Maxwell Polish Stand Shooting

A 54-year-old man with a history of 21 felony convictions, including 10 for armed robbery, is facing charges of attempted murder for allegedly shooting a man in a robbery attempt outside a Maxwell Polish stand. Tommie Johnson, the accused, is also implicated in another armed robbery and a threatening incident involving a woman in the days following the April 9 shooting outside Maxwell’s location at 3801 West Harrison.

According to prosecutors, the incident took place at around 3:40 a.m. when a 56-year-old man stopped at the restaurant for a meal on his way home from work. As he returned to his car after picking up his order, a woman approached him asking for money to buy food. The man, feeling sympathetic, gave her a few dollars.

Shortly after, Johnson allegedly approached the victim’s car, leaned on the window, pointed a gun at the man’s head, and threatened to kill him while demanding money.

Feeling his life was in danger, the victim accelerated the car, but Johnson fired a shot, piercing through the man’s neck from left to right, causing him to crash into a pole across the street. Johnson then reportedly fled the scene on a Divvy bike to his mother’s house.

Surveillance videos capturing Johnson’s movements before, during, and after the shooting aided detectives in identifying him. A police officer familiar with Johnson from prior arrests recognized him in the footage.

During a search at Johnson’s mother’s residence, investigators discovered clothing matching what he wore on the night of the shooting, including a jacket containing live bullets matching shell casings found at the crime scene.

In addition to the attempted murder charge, Johnson is also accused of robbing a man on April 18, stealing items such as Air Jordans, a phone, and jackets, and threatening a woman with a gun on April 25 to purchase drugs for him.

Prosecutors revealed that Johnson had received multiple lengthy sentences in the past for armed robberies and kidnappings, totaling 21 felony convictions since he turned 18.

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