Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Shooting Federal Agents in Chicago
CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for shooting two federal agents and a task force officer who were conducting a covert investigation in Chicago.
Eugene McLaurin, 31, of Chicago, pleaded guilty last year to three counts of assaulting a federal officer and two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence. U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah imposed the sentence during a hearing Wednesday in federal court in Chicago.
The shootings occurred on the morning of July 7, 2021, when two agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and an ATF Task Force officer were driving in an unmarked law enforcement vehicle while conducting a covert investigation on the South Side of Chicago. McLaurin admitted in a plea agreement that he mistakenly suspected the officers were members of an opposing gang. After following the officers’ vehicle, McLaurin pulled alongside it as the vehicle reached an on-ramp to the I-57 Expressway and fired several shots at the officers. The two agents and task force officer were wounded and suffered serious injuries.
Shortly after the shooting, McLaurin disposed of his handgun in a sewer drain and hid the key to his vehicle in the basement of his residence in order to conceal evidence of his involvement in the shootings.
The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kristen de Tineo, Assistant Director of ATF; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of ATF; and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Illinois State Police. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Jodrey, Jasmina Vajzovic and Elizabeth Pozolo.
“Through the violence of Eugene McLaurin, three dedicated law enforcement officers were seriously injured while serving their community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Pasqual. “The bravery and courage shown by the injured officers command our utmost respect. Our office will continue to ensure that assaults on law enforcement will be met with serious punishment.”
“The men and women of ATF and its Task Forces have a noble mission to protect the public from violent crime,” ATF Assistant Director de Tineo said in her statement to the Court at sentencing. “Etched just inside the entrance of ATF Headquarters is a quote that states, ‘Loyalty, protection, perseverance and partnership in defense of justice.’ That quote epitomizes the Chicago Field Division.”
“On behalf of the men and women of ATF, we are relieved that this defendant will serve 27 years in federal prison, protecting the community from further violence,” said ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Amon. “As noted in today’s sentencing hearing, the victims of this senseless crime, law enforcement agents and officers, dedicate their lives to protecting our community. We will not tolerate firearm violence directed at our community or our colleagues and will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Chicago Police Department to ensure a tragedy such as this one never happens again.”
###
