Man faces fed charges in shooting of three officers

CHICAGO — Federal prosecutors said charges were filed Thursday against a Chicago man in connection with this week’s shooting of three law enforcement officers who were injured while conducting an undercover investigation.

Eugene McLaurin, 28, is charged with one count of using a dangerous and deadly weapon to assault a special agent from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The three law enforcement officers were fired on at 5:50 a.m. while they were in an unmarked police vehicle on their way to conduct a joint investigation between Chicago police and the ATF, police said. The shooting happened in the 11700 block of South Ashland Avenue, near a northbound ramp to Interstate 57 from 119th Street, on the Far South Side.

McLaurin allegedly told investigators he fired on the car because he thought it was being driven by a gang rival.

Two of the officers were from the federal agency and one from CPD, authorities said.

While conducting the investigation, the officers noticed that a white Chevrolet Malibu was following their unmarked law enforcement vehicle, according to a criminal complaint. The officers took down the license plate information, the complaint said.

When the officers reached the ramp of I-57, the Malibu pulled up next to the vehicle and the driver rolled down the window, according to the complaint.

The driver pointed a black handgun at the officers and began shooting, according to the complaint. All three officers were injured, and they drove to the Morgan Park Police District for help.