An Englewood man is accused of shooting at Chicago police officers with a gun that was allegedly handed to him by a woman seated in his car during a traffic stop in West Pullman earlier this week.
Three officers in uniform were on patrol Monday night, driving an unmarked squad car when they pulled Kent Smith over for ignoring a stop sign in the 11900 block of South Lowe Avenue, Cook County prosecutors said Wednesday.
As the officers approached the Hyundai sedan, they saw Yasmin Hicks shift her body in the passenger seat before handing Smith a gun, which Smith continued to place in his waistband, prosecutors said.
The officers ordered the pair out of the vehicle, but Smith, 28, suddenly reversed, briefly dragging an officer who had put a hand through a window of the car, prosecutors said. That officer was able to get free and Smith crashed into a light pole.
Officers eventually pulled Smith out of the vehicle and placed him face-down on the ground as he continued to reach for the weapon in his waistband, prosecutors said.
Smith allegedly was able to fire a single shot. He then continued to try and shoot again, but wasn’t able to because the shell casing from bullet he had just fired had jammed in the chamber, allowing the officers to place him in custody, prosecutors said.
None of the officers were struck by the gunfire, but all three reported minor injuries while attempting to arrest Smith, prosecutors said.
Smith was taken to Roseland Community Hospital where he was treated and released for a laceration to the eye, prosecutors said.
Smith was ordered held without bail Wednesday for attempted murder, aggravated battery to a police officer and resisting arrest.
Hicks, 28, of Harvey, was ordered held on $2,000 bail for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. She is not licensed to own a gun, prosecutors said.
Smith was charged with attempted murder in 2014. But that charge was dropped when he pleaded guilty to aggravated discharge of a firearm, court records show. Smith also has a 2011 conviction for unlawful use of a weapon, prosecutors said.
Smith and Hicks are expected back in court Nov. 2.
