Bond denied for man charged in shooting of U.S. Marshal, K-9 during arrest in Belmont Cragin
CHICAGO (CBS) – Bond has been denied for a 19-year-old man charged with attempted murder after police say he shot a U.S Marshal and his K-9 in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood Thursday afternoon.
Tarrion Johnson is charged with five felony counts of attempted first-degree murder, two felony counts of attempted armed robbery, one felony count of injury to a police animal, and one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Police said around 1:27 p.m. Thursday Chicago Police officers and members of the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force were trying to apprehend Johnson on the 5200 block of West Belmont Avenue on an arrest warrant for attempted murder. He was wanted for allegedly trying to shoot two people who say they were only trying to give him a ride.
Kenneth Scott said he is relieved Johnson is finally off the streets after he said Johnson shot his girlfriend Nicole Smith in the arm just over a year ago.
"I'm just happy he caught," Scott said.
"I'm constantly secluding myself, it's hard. Even with him being locked down, it's still hard," Smith said.
In April 2021 Smith was with her boyfriend Scott on the West Side. Scott agreed to give Johnson a ride. Scott knew Johnson through a friend. Smith said she was shot while raising her arm to deflect the bullets. Bones in her right forearm were shattered.
"I would have been shot in the head because the bullet went past my face and knocked the window out. Then the second bullet, she threw her arm up and it hit her arm. And that gave me enough time to speed off," said Scott.
In court Saturday, prosecutors said a U.S. Marshal called Johnson's name multiple times as well as stating there was a K-9 there, but received no response. Officers then broke down the rear door of the residence and went inside. That's when prosecutors say a Chicago Police officer saw Johnson standing in the hallway. He then went into the bedroom and got a gun and began shooting at officers through the rear door.
Chicago Police yelled "gun" and fired one shot, prosecutors said. Johnson went into the bedroom and fired three shots through the window shooting at a marshal and the dog, striking both.
The U.S. Marshal suffered injuries to the hand and was also struck in the vest, where the bullet lodged in a camera on the vest.
The U.S. Marshal K-9 dog was also shot. Sources say the dog has shattered bones in the shoulder. The injuries are severe, and the dog may not be able to return to duty. Prosecutors Saturday said the bullet lodged in the dog's lung tissue. The dog was in critical condition but has since stabilized.
Johnson fired two twice more into the hallway at Chicago officers and a marshal, prosecutors said. A Chicago Police officer and a marshal yelled out to put the gun down and the CPD officer returned fire.
Johnson was apprehended as he exited a side door.
"I think he's an animal and he needs to be off the streets. I just don't think he cares about human life," said Scott.
"I just wanted to especially thank the law enforcement because it's because of them that he's where he's at," said Smith.
Police recovered a semi-automatic ghost gun, three shell casings outside the window, and two by the door. Five of those came from the ghost gun.
A woman came out and said she was in the unit with Johnson at the time.
Two people were taken into custody, and an investigation is underway.
According to Johnson's defense, he lives with a girlfriend, and they have a child on the way.
The Chicago Police officer who returned fire at the suspect has been placed on routine administrative leave for 30 days while the Civilian Office of Police Accountability conducts a review.
