A third man has been charged in the 2011 shooting death of Chicago Police Officer Clifton Lewis, officials said.
Alexander Villa, 25, of the 4500 block of West Altgeld, was charged with first-degree murder of a peace officer, aggravated battery with a firearm, and armed robbery with a firearm, according to police.
Villa, along with Tyrone Clay, 29, and Edgardo Colon, 34, was charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Lewis during a robbery.
Lewis was working his part time job at the M&M Quick Foods, at 1201 N. Austin St., Dec. 29 when two masked men walked in with guns drawn to rob the place. One of those men was Clay, said Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez.
Lewis immediately saw the men, drew his weapon and announced that he was a police officer, she said. Clay and the unidentified man opened fire on Lewis, striking him four times; once in the abdomen and three times in the back. Lewis died at the scene, said Alvarez.
After the shooting, Clay took $670 from the cash register while the other gunman took Lewis' weapon. Both then fled the store and got into a waiting getaway car driven by Colon, said Alvarez.
"The murder of Officer Clifton Lewis was a tragic loss to his family, friends, and colleagues as well as the entire City of Chicago," said Superintendent Garry McCarthy. "It is a measure of comfort to bring to justice the dangerous and despicable individuals who committed this horrible act."
Villa is expected to appear in bond court on Saturday.
