COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Police shot an 18-year-old man in Chatham this weekend after the man drove a stolen car toward the officers, prosecutors said Monday.
Police had pulled over Jerome Buchanan, 18, about 9:10 p.m. Saturday after they got word via police radio that the Chevy Impala he was driving was stolen, prosecutors said during a bond hearing Monday.
One marked SUV pulled up behind the Impala, which was stopped near 79th Street and King Drive, while a second police SUV parked in front of the car, prosecutors said.
Officers stepped out of their cars and asked Buchanan to put the Impala in park and show his hands, according to authorities. Neither Buchanan nor his passenger (described simply as "a juvenile") showed their hands, prosecutors said.
At that point, Buchanan reversed the Impala into the SUV behind him, changed gears and started to drive toward the officers standing near the car, prosecutors said.
One of the officers fired two shots through the Impala windshield, striking Buchanan, according to police and prosecutors.
Police in a statement said Buchanan was treated at Stroger Hospital, and his condition had stabilized.
According to prosecutors, Buchanan admitted he knew the car was stolen, and that the police had asked him to stop and reveal his hands before he reversed into the parked SUV and tried to drive forward.
Buchanan, of the 7900 block of South Langley Avenue, was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated assault to a police officer and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. on Monday ordered Buchanan held in lieu of $1 million bail.
Buchanan is currently on probation for criminal trespass to a vehicle. He was sentenced to two years probation in March 2015. According to prosecutors, he also has prior juvenile convictions for unlawful possession of a gun, theft and possession of marijuana.
No mug shot was available because Buchanan was in the hospital at the time of his arrest, police said.
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