The third person charged in the June murder of Chicago Police Officer Alejandro Valadez was denied bond Saturday, police said.
Police reportedly took Christopher Harris, 20, into custody Friday and charged him with one count of first-degree murder. A witness identified Harris as the third man involved in Valadez's murder. He was charged after admitting his participation, a police statement said.
Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered Harris held without bond during a Saturday hearing. He will appear in Cook County Court Monday at 9 a.m.
Harris, Shawn D. Gaston and Kevin A. Walker are accused of shooting and killing Valadez after he and his partner responded to a shots fired call in the about 12:30 a.m. June 1, authorities said.
Valadez, who worked in the Englewood District, was a decorated officer for the Chicago Police Department, where he began his career in December of 2005. and was assigned to the Englewood District.
On July 16, Gaston, 20, and Walker, 21, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges and attempted-murder charges, according to Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokesman Andy Conklin.
Harris’ arrest comes a day before Little Village community activist will hold a Sunday press conference to oppose the assignment of Judge Bertina Lampkin to Gaston and Walker’s case.
Activist Raul Montes Jr. claims Lampkin should not be assigned to the case because she was the judge who sentenced Gaston to probation for a previous gun charge during a 2008 trial, according to a release from Montes.
Gatson and Walker are scheduled to appear at a status hearing Aug. 19.
