Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Thanksgiving Expressway Shooting
One of three individuals implicated in a harrowing expressway shooting on Thanksgiving night in 2023 has been handed a 6-year prison term on Thursday.
Rishaud Rhodes, aged 20, originally facing multiple counts of attempted murder, opted to plead guilty to a less severe charge of aggravated discharge of a firearm towards an occupied vehicle. The sentence was delivered by Judge Sophia Atcherson, mandating that Rhodes must serve at least 50% of the term before being considered for release.
The incident unfolded around 11:15 p.m. when the victim and two passengers were traveling west in a Chevy Malibu on the Eisenhower Expressway near Leavitt Street. A gray Audi approached from behind, eventually maneuvering alongside the Malibu in the left lane. It was at this point that a passenger in the rear of the Audiâlater identified as Rhodesâallegedly opened fire on the victim’s vehicle.
Subsequently, the Audi’s driver slowed down, positioning the vehicle once more next to the Malibu. Prosecutors allege that Rhodes discharged several more shots towards the victim’s car during this encounter.
Despite the victim’s attempts to evade the attackers by braking suddenly, the Audi persisted in tailing them. The victim ultimately sought refuge at the Chicago Police Departmentâs Harrison District station, having sustained a graze wound to his leg. His vehicle bore evidence of 11 bullet impacts, with one round even lodging in his jacket.
Legal proceedings are ongoing for the two other suspects involved in the shooting. Parrius Harding, believed to be the driver, and Tristian Dent, who purportedly fired from the front passenger seat.
According to prosecutors, Illinois State Police utilized license plate reader data to trace the vehicle back to Harding’s girlfriend. Harding himself reportedly confessed to driving during the “shooting altercation” on the highway.
During questioning, Harding indicated uncertainty about the number of shots fired by Dent but acknowledged a substantial barrage, as per his arrest record.
Photographic evidence from license plate reader cameras captured Dent brandishing a firearm out of the Audi’s window. Cellphone records further corroborated his presence at the scene of the shooting, prosecutors disclosed.
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