By Kate Linderman
The Charlotte Observer
CHICAGO — A 23-year-old off-duty Chicago police officer was having fun with a night along with his girlfriend and associates when he was shot and killed in 2019, Illinois prosecutors stated.
Now, 30-year-old Menelik Jackson has been sentenced to 90 years in jail after he was convicted of killing the officer, Cook dinner County prosecutors stated in an April 22 information launch. He was convicted of first-degree homicide, aggravated battery and aggravated discharge with a firearm in October, prosecutors stated.
John Rivera had been with the Chicago police division for 2 years on the time of his loss of life, prosecutors stated.
He was in a parked automobile within the River North neighborhood when Jackson and two others approached the automobile pondering it belonged to somebody they’d gotten right into a combat with earlier that night time, in line with officers.
Jackson shot on the again seat of the automobile, placing Rivera and one other 23-year-old within the chest and neck, officers stated.
“In an act of cowardice, Mr. Jackson went to get a gun to settle this petty dispute, which resulted in him murdering the primary Hispanic man that he got here in touch with,” then- Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson informed CBS in 2019.
Jackson is the third particular person to be sentenced in Rivera’s loss of life, officers stated.
Jovan Battle , 38, was convicted of homicide, amongst different prices, in March 2021 and accused of main Jackson to the off-duty officer’s automobile, in line with prosecutors. He was sentenced to 65 years in jail.
Jaquan Washington pleaded responsible to conspiracy to commit first-degree homicide and was sentenced to 13 years in jail in December 2024 , in line with the information launch.
“Officer John Rivera was a devoted public servant who sought to make our metropolis a safer place, and his mindless loss of life left a gap in our hearts that may by no means be crammed,” State Legal professional Eileen O’Neill Burke stated in an announcement.
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