Armed man mowed down 5 cops in 3 separate crashes at massive street gathering, prosecutors say

An 18-year-old from Plainfield is facing serious charges after allegedly driving into Chicago police officers multiple times, causing injuries to five cops during an incident on the Near West Side early Sunday morning. Rashad Johnson was behind the wheel of a Ford Fusion with two passengers when the chaotic events unfolded.

According to Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Rausch, the Chicago Police Department had deployed a large number of officers to disperse a crowd of several hundred people near Roosevelt Road and South Loomis Street around 2:54 a.m. Officers were strategically positioned to manage the situation, with marked squad cars blocking off the westbound lanes of Roosevelt with lights flashing.

Johnson reportedly ignored police commands and attempted to evade authorities by veering into oncoming traffic and driving onto the curb as officers tried to intervene. In a reckless series of maneuvers, he struck multiple officers before crashing into a parked squad car and a utility pole, bringing his vehicle to a halt.

The aftermath of Johnson’s actions left five officers injured, with one being knocked unconscious and suffering a head wound requiring staples. Another officer sustained a concussion, while a third officer suffered lacerations and road rash to the elbow and back. Upon apprehending Johnson, officers discovered a loaded Mac 10 semiautomatic handgun with an extended magazine in his waistband.

Despite having no prior criminal record, Johnson now faces serious charges including five counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated possession of a weapon, and five counts of first-degree murder. Following a detention filing by the state, Judge Ankur Srivastava approved Johnson’s continued detainment.

This incident underscores the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty and serves as a reminder of the risks they encounter while working to maintain public safety. The investigation into the events of that night continues, with Johnson’s passengers who refused to cooperate adding another layer of complexity to the case.

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