CHICAGO _ Two men have been charged with murder in the shooting death of off-duty Chicago police Officer John P. Rivera.
Menelik Jackson, 24, of the 1900 block of East 170th Place in South Holland, and Jovan Battle, 32, of the 2100 block of South Albany Avenue in Chicago, are expected to appear Monday in Central Bond Court in the 2600 block of South California Avenue.
Jackson is charged with one count of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, and resisting or obstructing a peace officer, according to Chicago police officials. Battle is charged with first-degree murder and three felony counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Both men were arrested for the shooting around 3:25 a.m. Saturday in the 700 block of North Clark Street after they were identified for their alleged roles in the shooting that killed Rivera, 23, and critically wounded his friend, also a 23-year-old man, police said.
Jackson is accused of firing the fatal gunshots while Battle is accused of being a "co-conspirator" who was with Jackson at the time of the shooting, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Monday morning. Police are still seeking a third person of interest, he said.
At the time of the shooting, four people were sitting in a parked car in the 700 block of North Clark Street in the River North neighborhood when they were fired upon. Another off-duty Chicago police officer and a female civilian also were in the car, but they were not injured, police said.
