Cook County State’s Attorney Press Release Re: Menelik Jackson Sentenced to 90 Years
April 22, 2025
COOK COUNTY PROSECUTORS SECURE 90-YEAR SENTENCE FOR SHOOTER CONVICTED IN MURDER OF OFF-DUTY CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER
CHICAGO – Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke today announced that prosecutors have secured a 90-year prison sentence for Menelik Jackson, 30, following his conviction for the March 23, 2019, murder of Chicago Police Officer John Rivera. Rivera, 23, was off-duty and sitting in a vehicle with friends in River North when Menelik opened fire on the car, mistakenly believing they were a different group of people, according to prosecutors.
“Officer John Rivera was a dedicated public servant who sought to make our city a safer place, and his senseless death left a hole in our hearts that can never be filled,” said State’s Attorney Burke. “Today’s sentence delivers long overdue accountability, as well as a measure of justice for Officer Rivera’s family, friends, and fellow officers.”
State’s Attorney Burke thanked Assistant State’s Attorney’s Patrick Morley, Sarah Karr, Matthew Thrun and Grace Donovan for their handling of the case as well as the Chicago Police Department for the thorough investigation leading to the arrests and charging of the defendants.
Jackson was convicted by a jury in October 2024 on five charges related to the shooting, including first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a fireman. He is the third defendant convicted in connection with Rivera’s death; Jovan Battle, 38, who led Jackson to Rivera’s car, was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm and sentenced to 65 years in prison by Cook County Judge Michael Clancy in March 2021. Jaquan Washington pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and was sentenced to 13 years in prison by Judge Clancy on Dec. 10, 2024.
According to prosecutors, Rivera had started his career with the Chicago Police Department two years before his death. On the night of his murder, Rivera, his girlfriend and two friends were enjoying the evening in River North and got into a car parked near the intersection of West Huron and North Clark streets. Jackson, Battle, and Washington approached the car together, looking to avenge themselves and find the group they had fought with earlier at the then was then the Rock-N-Roll McDonald’s. Jackson fired into the front and the back seat of the car multiple times, fatally wounding Officer Rivera and injuring a 23-year-old who was shot in the chest and neck.
Judge Clancy handed down Jackson’s 90-year sentence after a hearing today at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
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