A man is charged with shooting a Chicago police officer in the chest as the cop tried to stop a violent home invasion in Morgan Park early Sunday morning. The officer survived thanks to his ballistic vest.
Darren Brewster, 35, is charged with attempted murder, home invasion, and other felonies.
Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara said the incident grew out of a December 5 confrontation in which members of the victims’ household argued with Brewster’s girlfriend and sister after their disabled car forced everyone to pull over. During that dispute, the women struck one of the men who would later be confronted during the home invasion, said Pekara. One of the women summoned Brewster to the scene of the disabled auto, but the groups eventually separated.
Shortly after midnight on Sunday, the victims were home with four children ranging in age from eight months to 12 years at their home in the 11400 block of South Davol Street, the same block where Brewster lives, according to CPD. One of the victims heard loud banging and answered the front door, only to see Brewster standing there, Pekara said. The victim tried to shut the door, but Brewster allegedly forced his way inside. A second victim emerged from a basement bedroom and stood at the top of the stairs. Brewster pointed a gun at him and fired a shot above his head before running out, according to Pekara.
Moments later, Pekara said, Brewster returned with his 15-year-old son and forced open the door again, damaging the frame as one of the victims called 911 to report a home invasion. Brewster allegedly rushed toward two brothers in the kitchen, raised the gun toward one of them, and fired. One of the victims grabbed a kitchen knife and the victims wrestled Brewster to the ground near the front entryway, Pekara said. A child recorded part of the struggle on an iPad from upstairs.
Two CPD officers were the first to arrive at the scene. One officer tried to pull a victim away from the fight as his partner entered the home, Pekara said. Brewster allegedly turned toward the second officer near the doorway and fired, striking him in the chest. The bullet pierced the officer’s protective vest and left a laceration but did not penetrate, Pekara said.
The officer ran outside and declared shots fired. Meanwhile, his partner fired his 9mm duty weapon three times, striking Brewster in the back and striking one of the victims twice in the arms, according to Pekara. A .45-caliber Glock was allegedly found inches from Brewster’s hand on the floor.
Investigators recovered four .45-caliber shell casings and two .45-caliber projectiles inside the home. A fired bullet was also removed from the officer’s vest. Ballistics tests matched the casings to the handgun found near Brewster, Pekara said, adding that both of Brewster’s hands tested positive for gunshot residue.
Brewster, the wounded victim, and the officer were all transported to hospitals.
Pekara said Brewster’s criminal background includes four misdemeanor convictions since 2013, most recently a 2018 weapons charge in Iroquois County.
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