CHICAGO — Prosecutors have charged a Chicago man with shooting his co-worker at a West Side auto shop while on pretrial release for a felony gun case.
Jovan Johnson, 26, is the 30th person accused of killing or shooting—or trying to kill or shoot—someone in Chicago this year while having a felony case pending. The cases involve 45 victims, 11 of whom died.
Last December, cops pulled Johnson over for a traffic violation in the 1500 block of South Spaulding. He freely offered to let cops search his car to prove he didn’t have any firearms, according to his arrest report. Yet, as soon as he stepped out of the vehicle, the report said, the officers saw an ammunition magazine sticking out from under his driver’s seat. It was allegedly attached to a loaded 9-millimeter handgun.
Johnson told the police that he used to have a license to own firearms, but it was revoked due to a domestic matter, the report said. The gun, he allegedly told officers, “stayed in the car” for his protection.
That felony gun charge was still pending on the afternoon of October 12 when Johnson got into an argument with another mechanic at O’Reilly Auto Parts, 3330 West Roosevelt, prosecutors said.
In a written proffer, prosecutors said both men were mechanics, soliciting business from customers when Johnson accused his 47-year-old co-worker of stealing potential work from him. They argued in front of customers, and Johnson drove away in his black Jeep, the proffer said.
About ten minutes later, he returned in the same Jeep and pulled up behind the victim, who was working on a car, leaning into the engine, prosecutors said. Johnson rolled down his window and fired one shot, striking the victim in the back, officials said. The bullet exited the man’s chest.
Prosecutors said the victim fell to the ground, but he was able to roll over and see Johnson’s Jeep leaving the scene. Two witnesses identified Johnson in photo line-ups. While the shooting was not caught on camera, CPD surveillance cameras and private security systems captured images of Johnson’s Jeep leaving the scene, according to prosecutors.
Judge Caroline Glennon-Goodman granted a detention petition to keep Johnson in custody. He is charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery by discharging a firearm.
Brand was sent back to prison briefly. Shortly after being released again, he went to the woman’s Edgewater home and fatally stabbed her 11-year-old son, prosecutors allege.
The “not horrible” series
This report continues our coverage of individuals accused of killing, shooting, or trying to kill or shoot others on pretrial release for a felony allegation. CWBChicago began our series of reports in November 2019 after Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans publicly stated, “We haven’t had any horrible incidents occur” under the court’s bond reform initiative.
On September 18, 2023, Illinois eliminated cash bail entirely. Our “not horrible” continues.
The actual number of murders and shootings committed by people awaiting trial for felony allegations is undoubtedly much higher than the numbers seen here. Since 2017, CPD has brought charges in less than 5% of non-fatal shootings and 33% of murders, according to the city’s data.
