Driver charged with trying to murder 5 Chicago police officers by ramming car into them at street gathering

An 18-year-old suburban man, Rashad Johnson, is facing charges for allegedly attempting to kill five Chicago police officers by striking them with a car on the Near West Side early Sunday morning. Johnson is also accused of possessing a firearm and will have a detention hearing on Tuesday to address the charges.

The incident took place as Chicago police were dispersing a large crowd in the area of Washburne and Throop late Saturday night. The crowd, estimated to be around 500 people by Justin Peters of Chitown Crime Chasers, had gathered for a block party that grew in size over several hours.

At around 2:51 a.m., the deputy chief informed dispatchers that westbound Roosevelt Road was being reopened. Shortly after, witnesses reported that a vehicle traveling westbound on Roosevelt struck a crowd of people at Loomis Street. Peters, who was on the scene, described how the car plowed through the crowd, with several police officers ending up on the ground and five officers being launched into the air upon impact.

In the aftermath of the incident, 13 individuals were charged with crimes related to the chaotic scene. The details of the allegations against Johnson and the events leading up to the incident are expected to be revealed during his upcoming court appearance.

CWBChicago, a news outlet focused on providing original public safety reporting with in-depth context and detail, has been covering the developments of this incident. The outlet was founded in 2013 by residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown and has since expanded its coverage to include various North Side areas like Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, and Uptown.

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