Felon charged with murder of Chicago police officer Enrique Martinez

A convicted felon was charged Wednesday in the fatal shooting of Chicago police officer Enrique Martinez that erupted during a traffic stop in the South Side Chatham neighborhood earlier this week and also claimed the life of the vehicle’s driver.

Darion McMillian, 23, of Harvey, is charged with first-degree murder in Monday night’s slayings in the 8000 block of South Ingleside Avenue, police said. Larry Snelling told reporters at Public Safety Headquarters.

McMillian also faces charges of attempted murder of a police officer, burglary, possession of a machine gun and possession of a weapon as a felon, Snelling said.

“On Monday night, our department and our city lost a hero when Officer Enrique Martinez was shot while protecting the city of Chicago,” Snelling said. “Today is the first step in bringing his murderer to justice.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx joined Snelling to announce the charges. Foxx said McMillian is expected to appear at an initial court hearing Thursday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.

Another person arrested after the shooting was released Tuesday without charges.

McMillian allegedly opened fire as officers attempted to stop the vehicle containing him, the second suspect and the other person killed. At least one officer fired back, Snelling said.

The commissioner previously said the shooting “sounded like rapid gunfire,” and an officer reported on police radio that one of the vehicle’s occupants was armed with an “automatic weapon.”

McMillian fled the vehicle after initially trying to drive away, Snelling said Monday, but was arrested after a brief chase and search of the area. Officers recovered a handgun belonging to the person who was fatally shot in the vehicle, as well as another weapon with an extended magazine.

Martinez was taken by other officers to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The murdered Gresham district official would have celebrated his three-year anniversary in December.

Mayor Johnson told reporters gathered outside the hospital that Martinez “courageously protected this city.”

“This tragic loss hurts deeply; “The wound is severe,” he said. “The only way to overcome this tragic loss is to embrace each other and recognize the value and courage of our police who put their lives on the line for us every day.”

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun Times

Charges have already been brought against the suspected shooter

McMillian had been placed under electronic monitoring in Will County. But earlier this week, Snelling said the tracking device had been turned off and police were investigating.

A spokesman for the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office said prosecutors were working with the state Bureau of Investigation and Chicago police.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for McMillian’s arrest last month and he was charged with a felony for allegedly attempting to thwart a drug test, court records show. At that point, McMillian had already been charged with cannabis crimes.

Chicago police arrested him on a warrant on Oct. 11 and he was later turned over to Will County authorities, court records show. After he was released on electronic monitoring in the new case, Will County prosecutors asked that he be held pending trial on the cannabis charges. This case continued on October 28th.

According to court records, McMillian previously pleaded guilty to shooting into a vehicle in May 2021.

While in prison in that case, he was charged with additional crimes stemming from a group attack on another inmate. He pleaded guilty to a battery charge, which was downgraded from a felony to a misdemeanor on the same day as his other plea deal.

McMillian was sentenced to four years in prison and mandatory supervised release in the shooting case, records show. He had already served 728 days, and in the other case he was only given fines and court costs.

On Monday, Snelling said officials need to do more to prevent “repeat offenders” from committing crimes.

“We cannot allow people to continue to wreak havoc in this city and victimize people with violent crimes, robberies and shootings,” he said. “They can never undo the trauma they inflict on the families and individuals they attack.”

Chicago Police Department