Shooting suspect tries to escape through police ceiling: prosecutors

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Cook County Sheriff's office mugshot of Malik Jackson

Updated: March 3, 2012 11:36AM

A purported gang member arrested this week for shooting a year-old girl last summer tried to escape by climbing into the drop-ceiling of a police interrogation room, authorities said.

Malik Jackson, 17, didn’t get very far — but officials upped his charges to include attempted escape and criminal damage to property.

At a court hearing Wednesday, assistant state’s attorney Wendy Caceres said that Jackson joined Gary Moore and Fredrick Dean as they fired bullets toward a rival gang member who was riding a bike in the early morning hours of Aug. 23.

A bullet seared through the 27-year-old man’s pants, although he was unharmed.

However, a stray bullet struck the baby’s head as she sat in her stroller in the 8300 block of South Muskegon. The baby survived but it is yet to be determined what the long term effects of her injuries will be, Caceres said.

Jackson yelled “Dragon Killer” before he pulled the trigger and fired his weapon until there were no more bullets left, Caceres said.

At the time, the male victim who was targeted by the three Vice Lords called 911 and told the dispatcher Jackson’s nickname, authorities said. He later identified Jackson in a photo array.

Jackson, who is also known as Rakym Jones, was arrested Monday near his home, in the 8300 block of South Bennett.

Police were following up on a noise disturbance when they saw the teenager loitering with several others, according to a police report.

As the officers approached, Jackson grabbed onto his waist band and ran away, the report said. He then allegedly tried to climb over a fence in the 1700 block of East 84th Street before kicking an officer and elbowing his forehead.

The officer had to use an “open-hand stun” to subdue Jackson and he was taken into custody, the report said.

When he was being questioned at Area 2 police headquarters on the Far South Side Tuesday, Jackson allegedly tried to escape by scaling the wall and climbing into the drop ceiling in an interview room.

Detectives heard the tile falling, and Jackson was detained in the ceiling above, Caceres said. Jackson’s alleged antics damaged the ceiling. It will cost $350 to repair, Caceres said.

Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered Jackson held in lieu of $2 million bail for attempted murder, aggravated battery, battery to a police officer, attempted escape and criminal damage to property.

Jackson was previously charged as a juvenile in an aggravated battery case.

Moore and Dean, both 16 ­— are awaiting trial. They were ordered held without bail when they appeared in court days after the shootings.