Officer Down: Officer Richard Francis
By Dan Rozek and Monifa Thomas
The Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — A woman charged with fatally shooting Chicago Police Officer Richard Francis was denied bond by a Cook County judge on Friday.
Robin Johnson, 45, has been charged with first-degree murder of a peace officer, one count of disarming a police officer and four counts of attempted murder in connection with the early Wednesday shooting of Francis, 60. She could face the death penalty if convicted.
During a struggle with Francis near a CTA bus, the 5-foot-9, 200-pound Johnson allegedly took the officer’s gun and shot him three times, striking him in the eye, the hip and the leg.
Then Johnson fired one shot at four uniformed officers who were responding to Francis’ call for backup, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Kopec said during Johnson’s bond hearing.
The officers fired back, critically injuring Johnson, who is hospitalized in stable condition at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center with multiple wounds.
Chicago Police have identified six witnesses to the shooting, which occurred outside a bus at Belmont and Western. Among the witnesses were an off-duty police officer, a passing motorist and two CTA bus drivers.
Johnson’s family said she suffers from epilepsy and mental illness. In the last three days, she pulled a knife on one of her daughters after becoming confused, acting as if she didn’t recognize her, relatives said.
Johnson allegedly got into a quarrel with another passenger on the bus before the driver flagged down Francis for help.
Copyright 2008 The Chicago Sun-Times