CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A convicted felon has been charged in the fatal shooting of Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez and one other person that took place in the city's Chatham neighborhood Monday night.
Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said 23-year-old Darion McMillian, of Harvey, has been charged with first-degree murder of a police officer, first-degree murder of the other shooting victim, attempted murder of an officer, burglary, possessing a machine gun and possessing a gun as a felon.
"Needless to say, this individual should not have been on our streets with a fully automatic weapon," Snelling said. "A weapon used to kill Officer Martinez as well as another individual who was in the car with the offender."
Chief of Detectives Antionette Ursitti said the shooting took place as Martinez and his partner were conducting a traffic stop on South Ingleside Avenue near 80th Street. Martinez and his partner were speaking with the driver when Ursitti said they noticed McMillian reaching into a bag. They told him to stop.
"At this point, McMillian produced a fully automatic handgun equipped with a machine gun conversion device and an extended magazine and fired in the direction of Officer Martinez, fatally striking him," Ursitti said. "The driver of the vehicle was also fatally struck multiple times by McMillian's gunfire."
Ursitti said McMillian then pushed the driver out of the vehicle and jumped into the driver's seat. As another officer tried to pull McMillian out, the 23-year-old allegedly put the vehicle in reverse — dragging the officer with him — and crashed into a parked car.
McMillian then fled the vehicle and escaped into a first-floor apartment, where a woman was inside, Ursitti said. She said McMillian found a knife, which he used to cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet, and fled the scene again. The woman was unharmed.
Officers found McMillian a few blocks away on South Maryland Avenue, where Ursitti said he was taken into custody and positively identified. Investigators found the gun used in the shooting inside the vehicle. Ursitti said detectives continued working the scene and secured charges on Wednesday.
"While this does not erase the grief of Officer Martinez's family, we hope it brings a small measure of comfort knowing that the person responsible for his murder will face justice," she said.
Snelling on Wednesday said Martinez was "killed by the violence he worked to stop."
"I want that to resonate with everyone," Snelling said. "We all need to be outraged at the violent offenders who are creating endless cycles of trauma in our communities. We need to be outraged at the proliferation of guns that are killing our residents, our children and our first responders. Anger doesn't describe the feeling that I feel right now."
Added Snelling: "Anger is just not enough. We have to channel that anger into energy that's going to keep our city safe by focusing on the violent crimes and the violent acts that are being committed throughout our city. To focus on those repeat offenders who continue to offend and continue to terrorize our city and our communities."
McMillian was facing felony drug charges dating back to 2023. In October 2024, the Will County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for his arrest over a separate felony charge related to his alleged attempt to defraud a drug test.
In a statement, Mayor Brandon Johnson said he was "deeply heartbroken that we lost a member of the Chicago Police Department."
"Officer Enrique Martinez saved lives even though he knew it could cost him his own," Johnson said Wednesday. "This exemplifies what our police officers do every single day."
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