Third Man Sentenced to Life in Prison in 2010 Killing of Off-Duty Chicago Police Officer

Marcus Floyd, 24, was found guilty in October and faces mandatory life in prison when sentenced

A Cook County judge on Tuesday sentenced the third and final man convicted in the 2010 killing of off-duty Chicago police Officer Thomas Wortham IV to life in prison. 

Marcus Floyd, 24, was found guilty in October and was sentenced to natural life in prison, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office. 

Jurors found that although Floyd did not pull the trigger, he was legally responsible for Wortham's killing because he joined his cousin in attempting to rob the off-duty officer.

Defense attorney David McMahon tried to lay the entire blame on the cousin for Wortham's slaying.

Brian Floyd was fatally shot by the police officer's father, a retired police sergeant, who responded to the shooting outside his home.

Twenty-five-year-old Paris McGee and 34-year-old Toyious Taylor were convicted last year of first-degree murder in the officer's death. Both are currently serving life sentences.

Wortham, 30, was killed May 19, 2010, in front of his parents' South Side home as he tried to stop four men from stealing his motorcycle. He had recently completed his second tour of duty in Iraq.

Prosecutors say Wortham was ambushed outside his Chatham home and when he identified himself as a cop, gunfire was exchanged and he was shot in the stomach. His father, a retired police sergeant, said he witnessed the shooting and ran inside to get his gun.

When he came out, he said he saw two of the defendants, Taylor and McGee, in the getaway car yelling at two other suspects to “get in, get in.”

His father opened fire on two of the suspects, killing one, after he said he saw one of them point a gun at him.

The 30-year-old officer was pronounced dead a short time later.

“The senseless loss of this young, hardworking officer can never be fully measured and it is a tragedy for all of the citizens of Chicago,” State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez said in a statement. “It has been a long and painful journey for the Wortham family and we hope that this final sentence provides some measure of justice and closure.”

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