CPD's Top Cop Calls Young Officer's Shooting A 'Hateful Murder'

CHICAGO, IL -- CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson said the two men charged in the murder of Chicago Police Officer John Rivera went out to shoot the “first Hispanic person they could find” after the two got involved in an altercation with a group of Latino men on a party bus.

“This is a hateful murder over a petty dispute,” Johnson said. “[The suspect] knew those other gentlemen were on a party bus. It appears he was just looking for a Hispanic man and settled for the first Hispanic he saw.”

Menelik Jackson, 24, of South Holland, is charged with one felony count of first-degree murder, three felony counts of attempted first-degree murder and resisting arrest after attempting to flee police.

Jovan Battle, 32, of Chicago, is charged with one felony count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder.

The third assailant remains at large, remains at large.

Shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday, police responded to a disturbance at the former Rock ‘n Roll McDonald s at 600 N. Clark St., where two of the suspects had gotten involved in an altercation with some people on a party bus, police said. The third unknown man got punched in the face. Jackson entered his white Ford pickup with the unknown suspect and searched the area for the bus, which by then had left the area. Deputy Chief of Investigations Melissa Staples said the altercation with the party bus was captured on video, as well as the shooting of the young police officer.

After an hour of searching for the party bus unsuccessfully, Battle joined the Jackson and the other man. Rivera and his friends were coming of the Stout Barrel House and Pizzeria around 3:30 a.m. The CPD superintendent said he three assailants approached the vehicle where Rivera and friends were sitting. Jackson began firing into the vehicle, killing Rivera and critically injuring another man sitting in the back seat. A second off-duty Chicago police officer and woman also sitting in the car, were uninjured.

Battle was picked up by 18th District police shortly after the shooting. Detectives pieced together the investigation using both police and private security cameras, and license plate readers. Johnson said detectives had “amazing surveillance” and “community assistance.” Police were able to saturate the area where Jackson pickup truck had been picked up on the plate reader, leading them to the white pickup truck parked in front of an apartment building where he was arrested. Johnson said officers also found the .40-caliber handgun used to kill Rivera at Jackson’s apartment.

Johnson said that Battle has an 18-page criminal history with the Chicago Police Department, including 10 convictions for violent crimes. Jackson, who police believe to be the shooter, also has a criminal history with CPD, including convictions for home invasion.

Johnson also confirmed rumors circulating over the weekend that Jackson had once applied to become a Chicago police officer. He was rejected following his arrest on a domestic violence-related charge hours before the was to take a polygraph exam, the Chicago Tribune reported.

“This guy actually had the nerve to think he could become a Chicago police officer . It’s disgusting,” Johnson said. “Today he stands accused of committing the ultimate disgrace to what this star stands for.”

Hate crime charges may also be forthcoming.

Cook County Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke ordered Jackson, of South Holland, and Battle, of Chicago, to be held without bond, the Tribune said.