The case of Rakim Kendall, a man who threatened Chicago police officers with a gun just days after receiving probation in another gun-related incident, has raised questions about the criminal justice system’s handling of repeat offenders. Kendall, 32, was given first-time weapon offender probation by Judge Tiana Blakely after pleading guilty to possessing a gun in a car in suburban Lansing. However, just six days later, he found himself in another dangerous situation.
On September 10, 2024, Chicago police officers attempted to stop Kendall as he matched the description of a masked man seen with a gun outside businesses on South Jeffery. Kendall fled from the officers and was struck by a passing SUV, but he quickly got up, pointed a gun at the officers, and continued to run with the weapon in hand. Despite multiple warnings to drop the gun, Kendall refused and even pointed the weapon at the officers with his finger on the trigger.
Bodycam footage released by the city showed the intense moments as officers tried to apprehend Kendall, who was eventually caught in the 7100 block of South Cyril. It reportedly took five officers and a Taser to subdue him, and a firearm along with a bag of marijuana was recovered from him.
On Tuesday, Kendall pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated assault of a peace officer. Judge Charles Burns sentenced him to 2½ years in prison, with credit for 449 days served in the county jail. However, due to Illinois’ policy of automatically reducing most prison sentences by 50 percent, Kendall is expected to serve less than a week in actual prison.
Earlier in the week, Judge Blakely terminated Kendall’s first-time weapon offender probation, deeming it unsatisfactory. The program, which aims to help participants eventually expunge their cases, was recently expanded to include all qualifying adults. Kendall could have potentially benefitted from this change if his probation had been successful.
The case of Rakim Kendall highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement and the judicial system in dealing with repeat offenders and the need for comprehensive reform to ensure public safety. The release of bodycam footage provides valuable insight into the dangers faced by police officers on the front lines and the complexities of addressing gun-related crimes in urban areas.
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