The convicted felon charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a high-ranking Chicago police officer was ordered held without bond Thursday.
Shomari Legghette, 44, was charged with murder, armed violence, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and drug possession in the shooting death of Cmdr. Paul Bauer at the James R. Thompson Center on Tuesday afternoon, officials announced the following day.
Authorities described the four-time convicted felon as a “career criminal,” with Chicago police Supt. Eddie Johnson saying that in his case, “some people don’t deserve to walk the streets of Chicago.”
Legghette had previously been charged with possession of a controlled substance, armed robbery and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number as far back as 1996, court records obtained by NBC 5 Investigates show.
In July 1999, Legghette was sentenced to 16 years in prison for armed robbery and released in 2005. He was also charged in 2007 with unlawful use of body armor, unlawful use of a weapon and drug possession, police said, facing more time behind bars.
His last arrest was in 2015, when he was sentenced to two years in prison on heroin charges, but was released in summer 2016.
Chicago police said Legghette “executed” 53-year-old Bauer during a confrontation in a stairwell of the building in Chicago’s Loop, firing a semi-automatic handgun with a 30-round magazine while wearing body armor.
Officers investigating narcotics sales first saw Legghette “acting suspiciously” on Lower Wacker Drive Tuesday afternoon, according to Cmdr. Brendan Deenihan.
Authorities said an officer approached Legghette, who took off running toward the Thompson Center. The officers sent out a suspect description over police radio, which Bauer overheard while in the area for a training seminar, according to police.
Bauer then pursued Legghette, who officials said can be seen on video “pulling” on Bauer before they fall down the stairs. Police said Legghette fired multiple shots at Bauer, who was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A 31-year veteran of the force, Bauer lived in the Bridgeport neighborhood and had led the 18th District on the city's Near North Side for the last two years. He is survived by his wife Erin and 13-year-old daughter Grace.
Authorities said Bauer did not appear to have drawn his weapon and no officers fired shots. Legghette fired his gun seven times and had crack, heroin and cash on him, according to police.
