Newly-secured video shows a Chicago police traffic turned violent at lightning speed last week, leaving an officer and the car’s with gunshot wounds. Officer Erik Moreno, who was driving the squad car, left the hospital over the weekend after being treated for gunshot wounds to his shoulder, forearm, and armpit area.
Jerome Halsey, who is accused of opening fire on Moreno and other officers as he emerged from the car’s driver’s seat, is now continuing his recovery at Cermak Hospital at Cook County jail.
Prosecutors last week said Moreno and his two partners pulled Halsey over on the 6900 block of South Sangamon around 2 p.m. on June 5 because he was driving erratically at a high speed and his car’s brake lights weren’t working.
The video, which may not be suitable for all viewers, begins with Halsey pulling into a dead end alley and then starting to back out — until the CPD unit blocks him in.
Cops “exited the police car with their weapons unholstered due to [Halsey’s] behavior,” Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said.
As Moreno neared Halsey’s car, Halsey opened the driver’s door and fired a gun at him, Murphy said. Halsey then stepped out of his car and continued to shoot at Moreno as the officer ran for cover, Murphy continued.
Moreno fired back and a second officer also shot at Halsey as Halsey turned toward him while firing, according to the allegations.
The officers’ shots struck Halsey in his chest and thigh, sending him crashing to the sidewalk.
Murphy said the entire incident was captured on police body cameras. He also said police found an additional ammunition magazine in Halsey’s possession and two extended magazines loaded with ammunition inside a bag in Halsey’s car.
Judge Charles Beach set bail at $1 million cash, meaning Halsey would have to post a full $1 million to get out of jail. State law barred Beach from holding Halsey without bail because Halsey was hospitalized and could not attend his bail hearing in person.
He is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery of a peace officer by discharging a firearm, and aggravated assault by discharging a firearm.
During the bail hearing, Murphy said Halsey was charged with a felony gun possession count in 2019. Prosecutors later reached a deal with Halsey, allowing him to plead guilty to a misdemeanor in exchange for a year of probation. His probation ended on March 30, Murphy said.
Murphy also told Beach that Halsey possessed a valid license to own firearm and a valid concealed carry license at the time of last week’s shooting. CBS2 explained last week how it was possible for Halsey to acquire and maintain those licenses despite his 2019 gun case.
Halsey’s defense attorney was unable to speak with him before the hearing, but she proposed that Halsey may not have known that the men who approached his car were police officers. She suggested that he may have acted in self-defense after seeing an SUV with three men inside follow him into an alley and then emerge with guns drawn.
Murphy said the cops were in full uniform.
Update June 14, 2022 — Halsey appeared in person for a bail hearing today. Judge Kelly McCarthy granted the state’s request to hold him without bail.
