Chicago crime: Walter Johnson pleads guilty after police sergeant who witnessed fatal shooting shot in West Garfield Park in 2020
A man accused of murdering another man and shooting a Chicago police officer avoided trial after pleading guilty.
Walter Johnson pleaded guilty Friday. He was identified as the person who shot a man, killing him, before shooting a police officer in the wrist on West Harrison in January 2020. The officer survived.
Police said Johnson fatally shot a 26-year-old man in the first block of South Karlov Avenue on Wednesday afternoon.
A Chicago police sergeant witnessed the shooting and followed Johnson, who was driving a white pick-up truck, police said. When Johnson realized he was being followed, police said he got out of the pickup truck, pointed a gun at the police officer's vehicle, and fired multiple rounds.
The officer was hit in the wrist and while en route to the hospital, the injured officer spotted the pick-up truck and insisted the pursuit continue.
The suspect's vehicle crashed in the 2000-block West Congress Parkway and Johnson was taken into custody, police said.
Johnson was charged with one count of first degree murder, one count of first degree attempted murder, one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm.
The injured officer, who had been with the department for more than 20 years at the time, survived the shooting.
Johnson will be back in court Nov. 14 for a status hearing.
