By James R. Scott, The Chicago Times
December 27, 2021
CHICAGO — According to his attorney, a man accused of shooting at two Chicago police officers in University Village on Christmas Eve didn’t realize he was doing so and was just trying to frighten off gunmen who were approaching him.
However, the prosecutor argued that Nokomis Jefferson, 29, was given ample warning that they were police. Jefferson has been charged with attempted murder and unauthorized use of a firearm. Jefferson was wounded in the exchange with police on the Near West Side at 10 p.m. Friday.
According to Cook County prosecutors, officers watching a Chicago Housing Authority video camera feed saw Jefferson remove a revolver from his belt and hold it at his side as automobiles passed. As two police in an unmarked car approached Jefferson, he began to run, turned, and shot at one of the officers.
Jefferson claimed he hide behind a parked car and shot again at both police. Then he dashed to the neighboring 12th District police station parking lot and placed his hands on a vehicle, Murphy said, waiting for police to arrest him. Jefferson was shot and brought to Stroger Hospital, where he was stabilized.
Jefferson did not show up for his first bond hearing on Sunday, when his bail was set at $1 million.
Jefferson had previously been charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and was out on bail for a separate firearms charge at the time of the shooting, according to him.
However, Jefferson’s attorney stated that the police were dressed in “plain clothes” and had their weapons drawn when they approached Jefferson. Jefferson later surrendered to police at the 12th District station.
Jefferson will appear in court on January 18.
The Chicago Times 