Chicago: Malik Wrightsell Charged With Attempted Murder After Shooting Two Officers in South Shore

Suspect Pulled Gun During Traffic Stop Struggle

Malik Wrightsell, 34, faces attempted first-degree murder charges after allegedly shooting two Chicago Police Department officers during a traffic stop on the city's South Side over the Fourth of July weekend, according to prosecutors.

Wrightsell was pulled over around 5 p.m. Friday, July 3, near East 79th Street and South Chappel Avenue in the South Shore neighborhood. Officers stopped him for illegally driving a "dune-buggy style" vehicle that is not legal for highway use, Assistant State's Attorney Mike Pekara said.

When asked to exit the vehicle, Wrightsell fled on foot. One officer pursued him into the 7900 block of South Chappel Avenue and began struggling to take him into custody, Pekara said.

During the struggle, Wrightsell pulled a handgun from a cross-body bag and fired shots, Pekara said. One bullet struck an officer in the abdomen. The officer's ballistic vest stopped the round. A second officer was hit in the arm, with that officer's vest also deflecting the bullet, according to the Chicago Police Department.

"Wrightsell pulled a gun from a cross-body bag and fired shots, striking one officer in his vest and another in his elbow," Pekara said.

An officer returned fire during the confrontation, striking Wrightsell multiple times, Pekara said. All three were transported to area hospitals. Both officers are listed in good condition. One has since been released from the hospital, while the other remains under treatment, Pekara said.

Wrightsell was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition and remained hospitalized as of Monday, delaying his initial detention hearing.

Charges and Criminal History

Prosecutors filed multiple felony charges against Wrightsell, including:

• Attempted first-degree murder
• Aggravated battery to a peace officer
• Aggravated assault to a peace officer
• Possessing a firearm as a repeat felon
• Resisting police

Wrightsell also faces a citation for driving a non-highway vehicle, according to court documents.

Pekara said Wrightsell has previous convictions for robbery and unlawful use of a weapon.

A hearing was rescheduled for Wednesday after Wrightsell's public defender reserved argument until the defendant could appear in court. Judge Luciano Panici Jr. received a brief proffer from prosecutors on Monday.

Officer-Involved Shooting Under Review

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the officer-involved shooting, according to the Chicago Police Department.

Holiday Weekend Violence Drops to Seven-Year Low

The South Shore shooting was one of 11 shooting incidents recorded across Chicago between 6 p.m. Friday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday, according to preliminary Chicago Police Department figures. Those incidents left 16 people shot and three people dead during the holiday weekend.

That represents a sharp decline from the Fourth of July weekend in 2025, when Chicago recorded 32 shootings involving 44 victims, including nine fatalities, according to FOX 32 Chicago.

The weekend also included a mass shooting in West Garfield Park early Sunday, where six teens were shot during a large gathering on the 3800 block of West Maypole Avenue. A seventh teen was shot minutes earlier in a separate incident nearby, according to police.

Fredrick Seaton, a supervisor at the West Garfield Park office for the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, said his team of 12 people was overwhelmed by a crowd of at least 300 people, mostly teens.

"I had a team of 12 people out there trying to do what we could do, but we were outnumbered," Seaton said.

As of July 3, the Cook County medical examiner's office reported 225 homicides in Chicago so far in 2026, which is 10 more than in the same period last year. However, CPD data showed the increase is concentrated in Area 1, which recorded 69 homicides through late June compared with 41 in the first six months of 2025.