Eugene McLaurin, 28, of Chicago, is charged with one count of using a dangerous and deadly weapon to assault an ATF agent. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
A Chicago man allegedly told authorities he opened fire on an unmarked car carrying a police officer and two ATF agents early Wednesday because he thought they were “opps” — or rival street gang members — surveilling a neighborhood on the Southwest Side. Now Eugene “Gen Gen” McLaurin,28, faces federal charges in connection with the shooting that wounded the officer and two agents Wednesday morning just ahead of a visit by President Joe Biden to the Chicago area. McLaurin is charged with one count of using a dangerous and deadly weapon to assault an ATF special agent. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. During a brief court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather McShain, a prosecutor said the feds want McLaurin held in custody as a danger to the community. A defense attorney for McLaurin waived a detention hearing for the time being, meaning McLaurin will stay in federal custody. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Pozolo said McLaurin was initially arrested by Chicago police at 8:35 a.m. Wednesday, and he was transferred to federal custody at 11:03 a.m. Thursday. The shooting happened just before 6 a.m. Wednesday as the officer and two agents were getting onto the northbound lanes of Interstate 57 near 119th Street, about a mile from the Morgan Park police station, authorities said. The police officer was grazed in the back of the head, one ATF agent was shot in the hand, and another ATF agent suffered a wound to his side, police said. All were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center.
