Chicago police supervisors have recently authorized criminal charges in two shooting cases, despite Cook County prosecutors indicating that there was insufficient evidence to support them. This decision was made known through court records and officials who spoke with CWB Chicago.
In both instances, prosecutors dropped the cases as soon as the accused individuals appeared in court for the first time. The first incident occurred on March 12, 2025, at O’Hare International Airport. A call came in about a fight near the baggage claim carousels at Terminal 2’s door 2A, which escalated into a shooting outside the terminal. Witnesses described the shooter as wielding a long gun, possibly a mini-AK47-style weapon, and firing multiple rounds. Approximately 30 shell casings were found at the scene, with bullets hitting the terminal building, a window, and a hotel shuttle bus. Surveillance footage captured the entire incident, which also went viral on social media.
Antonio Lewis, 26, was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm toward an occupied vehicle in connection with the O’Hare shooting. However, prosecutors dropped the case at Lewis’s first court appearance on March 9. Lewis was already in custody on multiple other charges, including firing a weapon at another person in Cicero on February 7.
In another incident, a double murder took place in the 2300 block of West Roosevelt Road. Two individuals, Dennishiana Mattox, 22, and Malik Johnson, 24, were found shot to death. Despite prosecutors declining to approve charges, a CPD commander overrode their decision and authorized two counts of first-degree murder against the suspect. The charges were dropped the following day in court.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed that they had rejected charging both individuals in these cases due to insufficient evidence. The office stated that additional evidence was required before proceeding with prosecution. Both matters have been referred back to CPD for further investigation.
CPD has been emphasizing its murder clearance rate, which can sometimes be misleading. The department’s clearance rate includes cases closed in the current year, regardless of when the crime occurred. This can inflate statistics, giving the impression of a higher clearance rate. CPD’s press office did not respond to inquiries about why supervisors chose to override prosecutors’ decisions and whether the department considers these cases cleared.
In conclusion, the incidents at O’Hare Airport and on Roosevelt Road highlight the complexities of criminal investigations and the challenges faced by law enforcement and prosecutors in ensuring justice is served.
