CHICAGO (WLS) – Three men were charged Tuesday morning after an off-duty Chicago police officer was shot during an altercation in the far south on Saturday.
Demitrius Harrell, 28, of Chicago Ridge, Bryant Hayes, 22, of Chicago, and Justen Krismantis, 22, of Chebanse, Illinois, face gun charges in connection with the shooting of Officer Danny Golden .
Harrell was charged with illegal use of a weapon as a crime and aggravated discharge of a firearm; Hayes was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated unloading of a firearm; and Krismantis was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a firearm, and obstruction of an agent. Hayes and Krismantis are also charged with attempted murder.
Hayes was arrested around 6:40 p.m. Saturday in Forest Park; Krismantis was arrested around 9:20 p.m. Saturday in Oak Lawn; and Harrell was arrested around 1:15 p.m. Monday at Chicago Ridge.
All three appeared in court on Tuesday and were arrested without bail.
Prosecutors say Golden was at Sean Rhino’s bar in Beverly early Saturday morning when a fight broke out between the three defendants and another group present. After the altercation spilled onto the street, Golden tried to break things up while others chased Krimantis, Hayes and Harrell.
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At some point investigators say the fight ended and those chasing began to leave, but Krismantis, who had recovered a weapon from his vehicle, handed it to Hayes.
“Then the defendant Hayes grabs the gun, points it in the direction of victim 1 and victim 2 and the others walk away. Hayes fires the automatic weapon that fired bursts of several bullets at once,” James said. Murphy, Cook County Assistant Attorney.
Prosecutors said 19 pots were recovered from the scene. Golden received a blow to the back while a second man was shot in the leg. Golden’s loved ones have said it’s a miracle he survived. He is now paralyzed from the waist down and is recovering at Oak Lawn Hospital Christ.
Retired detective Patrick Golden, Daniel’s father, said his family will have to adapt to the reality of paralysis, but he knows his son’s determination and heart will serve him well.
“It’s tough,” Patrick Golden said. “He did four years in the military, six years in the Chicago police department. He’s a tough kid. He stays there.”
Golden will be transferred to Shirley Ryan’s skills lab in the coming days for physical therapy and rehabilitation as he adjusts to his new reality. He was expelled from the hospital on Tuesday for a brief visit with supporters.
“There had to be 200 people present, people from the neighborhood, Chicago police officers,” Patrick Golden said. “His girlfriend was there and he brought the little one, a puppy, Marilyn.”
“Dan Golden will be back in his life. He will live his life and start a family,” said Liam Hopkins, a family friend.
Golden’s girlfriend said a bullet lodged between her lungs and heart missed a 1-millimeter valve. He said he is in a good mood as he recovers.
In 2009 he graduated from St. Louis High School. Rita, and her little brother just graduated in May.
The school will hold a prayer service at 6:30 pm Thursday for Golden.
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