A Chicago man is facing serious charges after police say he opened fire on a 16-year-old on Nov. 18 in the 5000 block of W. Madison on the West Side. The teen was not hit, but officers later arrested 47-year-old Dawon Thompson on Saturday and booked him on one felony count of attempted first-degree murder and a separate felony count of possession of a controlled substance. He was scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Those details come from the Chicago Police Department, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago. According to that report, officers identified Thompson as the person who allegedly fired at the 16-year-old, and the victim was not injured during the Nov. 18 incident. The outlet also notes that Thompson was arrested in the 5000 block of W. Madison and that his next court appearance was set for Monday.
Legal context
Under Illinois law, an attempt to commit first-degree murder is generally treated as a Class X felony. The state’s attempt statute also lays out stiffer penalties when a firearm is involved, as detailed in 720 ILCS 5/8-4. Those firearm enhancements can add significant time to a prison sentence, depending on whether a gun was possessed or discharged. Prosecutors will determine if they seek any firearm-related enhancements as Thompson’s case moves through court.
Where this fits in Chicago's crime picture
The arrest comes amid a shifting landscape in Chicago’s gun violence numbers, with local coverage and city data showing some measures of shootings and homicides down from last year. Reporting has also highlighted ongoing investments in violence-prevention efforts across the city, according to WTTW.
Thompson remains in custody as the case proceeds, and public records from his arraignment and any future filings are expected to shed more light on the incident and the evidence investigators say they have gathered. This story will be updated if prosecutors add charges or when new court dates and documents become available.
