A judge on Thursday sentenced an 18-year-old man to 12 years in prison for shooting the son of a Chicago police officer during a botched robbery outside a Morgan Park bar in 2023. Prosecutors said Kevin Ross, then 17, opened fire at point-blank range after the off-duty officer’s 22-year-old son tackled him during the hold-up.
Ross pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and must serve at least 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole, according to the terms imposed by Judge Diana Kenworthy.
His accomplice, 21-year-old Christopher Brooks, pleaded guilty in July 2024 to discharging a firearm during an attempted armed robbery. Judge Maria Kuriakos-Ciesil sentenced him to four years. Records from the Illinois Department of Corrections show Brooks was paroled in April 2025 after half of that time.
The shooting occurred around 1:45 a.m. on July 15, 2023, as the victim and a 20-year-old friend left a bar near 106th and Western Avenue, according to prosecutors. When they passed a parking lot at 110th Street, allegedly Ross approached them from behind wearing a ski mask and pointed a gun, demanding their belongings.
As Ross reached for one man’s pocket, the older victim—a Chicago police officer’s son—lunged at him. The two struggled on the ground until Ross pulled free and fired once into the man’s chest from close range, prosecutors said. The bullet passed entirely through the victim’s body. Ross ran to a white Kia allegedly driven by Brooks.
The victim, unaware he had been shot, began running with his friend down Western Avenue until he collapsed.
Investigators used license plate readers to trace the getaway vehicle back to Brooks. During a search of his home, police found six 9mm shell casings in his bedroom that prosecutors said matched one found at the shooting scene.
According to prosecutors, both Brooks and Ross later made admissions. Brooks allegedly confirmed that he drove the getaway car, while Ross admitted to carrying out the robbery.
Prosecutors dropped the attempted murder charge against Brooks as part of his plea deal. Neither man had prior criminal records.
