The Chicago Sun-Times reported that 20-year-old Paris McGee, a suspect in the shooting death of Chicago Police Officer Thomas Wortham IV, bragged on his Facebook page that he doesn't have any problems "pullin da trigger."
Apparently he does have a problem exercising his right to remain silent, since any Chicago criminal attorney would tell him that his foolish status update only helped prosecutors' case against him. The young suspect was ordered held without bond for his alleged role in the slaying of the off-duty police officer and Iraq War veteran.
Alleged accomplice Toyious Taylor, 29 years old, also is being held without bail but apparently has not incriminated himself like his alleged partner in crime.
As we blogged about two days ago, the 30-year-old officer and war veteran was shot in the head during the attempted robbery of his motorcycle outside his parents' South Side home. Mayor Richard Daley held a press conference about the shooting, taking the opportunity to reinforce his opposition to handgun sales in Chicago.
Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Joe Cataldo said Toyious Taylor drove the getaway car and Paris McGee was found armed with a handgun. Four men in total are thought to have been involved, one of them who was shot dead and another injured.
During the ensuing gunfire, Toyious Taylor allegedly ran over the wounded off-duty cop and dragged him about a quarter of a block. Police say he then picked up Paris McGee and another suspect. Paris then allegedly brandished a weapon at the victim's father, a former cop himself who was armed with .45-caliber pistol.
Thomas Wortham's father, whose name has not been published in the press, was able to identify Toyious Taylor and Paris McGee from a photo lineup. Because they stand accused of both killing a police officer and causing a person's death in the commission of another felony (robbery), they face the death penalty if convicted.
Related Resources:
- Capital Punishment and the Death Penalty (FindLaw)
- Police Use Social Network Tool for Public Updates (FindLaw's Blotter Blog)
- Find a Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
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