Elgin man held without bail after shooting Chicago police officer in cheek, saying ‘You will die,’ prosecutors say

A 23-year-old Elgin man was ordered held without bail Tuesday morning during a court hearing in which prosecutors said he told a Chicago police officer, “You will die,” after shooting the cop in his face.

Jovan McPherson, of the 400 block of South Sherman Avenue in Elgin, was charged on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery of a police officer, unlawful use of a firearm and resisting arrest, all in connection with a shooting at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the 1000 block of West North Avenue.

The shooting left one officer with a “through and through” gunshot wound to his face, police Superintendent David Brown said at the time. McPherson also allegedly fought with a different officer who eventually arrested him.

McPherson appeared in a bond court hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in front of Judge Mary Marubio, which was broadcast via YouTube.

Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said the situation began when a 21-year-old woman picked up McPherson and started to drive them from Elgin to downtown Chicago to run an errand. While in the car, the woman spoke with the father of her child, and McPherson got angry with her. He then took her phone and directed her where to drive.

McPherson then pulled out a gun and pressed it into the woman’s side, threatening to kill her, Murphy said. He suddenly pulled on the steering wheel and forced her to exit the expressway at North Avenue.

The woman then saw a strip mall where a marked Chicago police squad car was parked with two officers sitting inside, Murphy said. The woman drove into the parking lot and told McPherson she was going to go into the Ulta store, Murphy said.

McPherson followed her into the store and caused a disturbance, and the woman sought help from an employee, Murphy said.

The employee called 911, and another employee went outside to get the officers, Murphy said. The two officers entered the store as an employee took the woman to the back.

McPherson went outside and was followed by one of the officers while the other officer talked to the woman, Murphy said. McPherson ripped off the officer’s mask, shoved him and placed him in a “bear hug.”

McPherson then went back into the store, and the two officers continued trying to calm him down, Murphy said. He left the store again and went back to the car. One of the officers told him that the woman did not want to be near him.

McPherson told the officers, “I got a gun, too,” Murphy said. And when an officer asked where it was, McPherson said, “What, you want to fight? ... I’m not leaving, this is a good (expletive) gun too, (expletive).”

One of the officers then yelled at the other that McPherson had a gun, and a struggle over the weapon began, Murphy said. McPherson said, “Y’all not gonna get this. I’m too strong for this (expletive).” As he sat in the car he pulled the gun underneath his legs and pointed it at one of the officers, who grabbed it to push it away from his face.

During the struggle, McPherson fired the gun, hitting the officer in the right cheek, Murphy said. The officer, while shot, continued to struggle with McPherson — who fired another shot that didn’t hit anyone, according to Murphy.

McPherson is then heard on body-worn camera saying, “You will die,” Murphy said.

More officers arrived, got McPherson’s gun and placed him under arrest, Murphy said. McPherson then reportedly admitted to shooting the officer, saying he did it because an officer shot at him first.

Neither officer fired their weapon, Murphy said. Two shell casings were found at the scene.

McPherson was out on probation for two Kane County felony cases at the time of the shooting, Murphy said. One case was a possession of a controlled substance charge and the other was for aggravated fleeing and eluding.

“I never had no (muffled), and they know that,” McPherson said as Murphy read off his criminal background. His defense attorney ordered him to stay quiet.

His defense attorney also said McPherson has been in Kane County his whole life and graduated from Elgin High School. His attorney argued there was not enough evidence that he intended to murder the officer.

But Marubio said McPherson had clear intent to kill when he said “You will die” to the officer.

Marubio said she made her ruling partly based on McPherson firing a gun in a busy area at a time of day when a lot of people were around.

“Those bullets that were discharged could’ve gone anywhere or hit anywhere,” she said.

McPherson’s next court date is scheduled for Nov. 9.