A Chicago man accused of shooting two Venezuelan migrants outside a police station before leading officers on a high-speed chase that ended when he crashed into a CPD squad car has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Anthony Evans, 28, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery by discharging a firearm and aggravated DUI in exchange for concurrent sentences of 18 years and five years, respectively, according to court records. Judge Shelley Sutker-Dermer handled the case and sentenced Evans.
The incident unfolded on an afternoon in October 2023 outside the Grand Crossing (3rd) District police station at 7040 South Cottage Grove Avenue. Prosecutors said Evans opened fire outside the station, striking a 28-year-old woman in the buttocks and a 24-year-old man in the right thigh. Both victims were migrants from Venezuela who listed the Grand Crossing station as their home address, according to Evans’ arrest report.
Moments later, officers spotted a Jeep Cherokee matching the description of the vehicle wanted in connection with the shooting, the report said. Evans sped away northbound on State Street before eventually swerving into the southbound lanes, according to police. He crashed into a Chicago police tactical unit squad car in the 5400 block of South State Street.
Officers who removed Evans from the Jeep said they found a 9-millimeter handgun with an extended magazine and an automatic-fire switch on the floorboard beside his right hand. Police said shell casings recovered from inside the Jeep and at the shooting scene were fired from a 9-millimeter handgun. Officers also reported finding an open bottle of alcohol inside the Jeep.
About three hours after the crash, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a doctor at Insight Hospital drew Evans’ blood. His blood alcohol concentration was .175, according to the arrest report, more than twice Illinois’ legal limit for driving.
The crash injured four Chicago police officers, who were taken to hospitals for treatment, according to a CPD media statement. The Chicago Fire Department had to extract officers from the damaged squad car. The two shooting victims were treated and released from the University of Chicago Hospital.
Evans must serve 85% of his 18-year sentence under Illinois law. His projected parole date is January 25, 2039, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections inmate portal.
