Bronzeville Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Shooting Two Officers During South Shore Foot Chase

A 34-year-old Bronzeville man is facing attempted murder and six other felony charges after Chicago Police say he shot two officers during a foot chase in South Shore Friday evening, then was shot himself as one of the officers returned fire.

Malik Wrightsell is charged with first-degree attempted murder, aggravated battery of an officer, aggravated assault of an officer, resisting an officer and two firearms felonies, according to Chicago Police. He also received a citation for driving a "non-highway vehicle" on city streets.

Wrightsell remained hospitalized Monday. His initial detention hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse was pushed back as a result. Chicago Police Officer Mario Perez testified briefly about Wrightsell's condition, and prosecutors gave Judge Luciano Panici Jr. a short proffer outlining the case before the judge set the full detention hearing for Wednesday. A public defender assigned to Wrightsell said she would reserve argument until he can appear in court himself.

The shooting started around 4:58 p.m. Friday, when officers pulled over what police described as a "dune buggy-style vehicle" on the 2000 block of East 79th Street. Wrightsell allegedly ran from the stop, and officers chased him on foot toward the 7900 block of South Chappel Avenue.

During the chase, Wrightsell pulled a 9-millimeter handgun fitted with a laser sight from a cross-body bag and shot one of the officers in the abdomen, according to police and the Cook County State's Attorney's office. That officer's ballistics vest stopped the bullet. The officer then returned fire, hitting Wrightsell multiple times.

A second officer was shot in the arm during the struggle that followed. Police recovered a firearm at the scene but have not said whose gun caused the second officer's wound.

Wrightsell was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and was listed in critical condition Friday night. He remained at Northwestern as of Monday afternoon, according to prosecutors.

The two wounded officers were identified as Carl Williams, 27, and Esteban Cervantes, 30, both four-year veterans of the department. Mayor Brandon Johnson said Friday that Cervantes underwent surgery for the gunshot wound to his arm. Neither officer's injuries were considered life-threatening. The officer shot in the abdomen was treated and released from the hospital, while the officer shot in the arm was still hospitalized Monday afternoon.

Both officers will be placed on administrative duty for at least 30 days, a standard practice following police-involved shootings, according to the department.

The case now moves toward Wednesday's detention hearing, where prosecutors will lay out fuller evidence and argue whether Wrightsell should be held pending trial. His continued hospitalization means he has not yet appeared in court in person, and his attorney has not addressed the specific allegations. Cook County prosecutors have not said when Wrightsell might be well enough to attend a hearing himself.