West Garfield Park man charged with shooting at Chicago police officers

A recently paroled West Garfield Park man was ordered held without bail Tuesday for allegedly shooting at Chicago police officers during a foot chase in the West Side neighborhood over the weekend.

No officers were injured but Felton Williams was wounded when the Harrison District officers returned fire, police and Cook County prosecutors said.

The officers were on patrol in an unmarked SUV Sunday night when they saw a parked car with its headlights on and engine running in the 200 block of North Kostner Avenue, prosecutors said.

The officers noticed 33-year-old Williams walking away from the car and said he looked over his shoulder at them, before he adjusted something on his right side and began walking faster, prosecutors said.

When the officers, who were wearing street clothes and tactical vests, announced they were police, Williams allegedly took off running.

One officer tried to grab Williams but was shoved away, prosecutors said. As another officer ran after Williams, Williams allegedly turned around and fired once with a black handgun. The muzzle flash from the gun was recorded by an officer’s body-worn camera, prosecutors said.

Chicago police

The officers said they saw Williams attempt to fire several more times, but his gun didn’t discharge, prosecutors said.

One officer returned fire multiple times, striking Williams in the hip and buttocks, prosecutors said. He eventually fell in a vacant lot and was taken into custody.

A gun found by a garage near where Williams was arrested was missing a magazine and had no round in the chamber, prosecutors said. Police recovered a magazine loaded with 14 rounds near where the chase began and a spent shell casing was found where officers said Williams fired, prosecutors said.

Williams was released on parole in September after serving his sentence for aggravated battery to a police officer, state prison records show.

He was charged this week with attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated discharge of a firearm and being an armed habitual criminal.

Williams has been employed as a dishwasher, has a young son and lives in the city, defense attorney Nate Nielsen said.

Williams is expected back in court Dec. 13.