Antonio Gonzalez Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison After Fleeing Murder Scene and Running Over Chicago Police Officer
Antonio Gonzalez, a 22-year-old man, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after a series of criminal incidents that culminated in him fleeing a murder scene and running over a Chicago police officer who tried to arrest him. Gonzalez struck a plea deal with prosecutors that resolved multiple cases spanning from 2021 to 2022.
The saga began on May 29, 2021, when Gonzalez was a passenger in a car that was pulled over by police for a traffic violation. During the arrest of the driver for not having a license, a loaded handgun was found in a bag belonging to Gonzalez, leading to charges of illegal gun possession. He was later released from custody.
Four months later, Gonzalez was allegedly spotted driving a car that had been hijacked earlier that day. When police attempted to stop him in the Loop, he evaded them by driving onto the sidewalk before being cornered on South Michigan Avenue. Although the carjacking victim could not positively identify Gonzalez, he was charged with possessing a stolen motor vehicle and placed on electronic monitoring.
On April 27, 2022, Gonzalez reportedly removed his ankle monitor and discarded it in a garbage can, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest.
In the following month, Gonzalez was involved in a fatal incident where he was in a stolen car with three others, one of whom fatally shot 21-year-old Justin Gamino. After the car crashed, Gonzalez fled the scene but was eventually apprehended by police, along with the other occupants.
During the arrest, Gonzalez attempted to escape by jumping into a running car and driving off, injuring a police officer in the process. The officer suffered a fractured wrist and concussion after being run over by the car’s back tire, while her partner sustained abrasions to her hands and arms. The entire incident was captured on the officers’ body-worn cameras.
Gonzalez was eventually captured after fleeing into a forest preserve. Last Thursday, he pleaded guilty to attempted murder in exchange for a 10-year sentence. Prosecutors agreed to drop all other pending cases against him.
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