A Chicago man was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for firing at an occupied minivan during a gunfight at a South Side gas station, injuring a bystander.
Malik Williams, 29, was standing near the junction of Marquette Road and Halsted Street on May 27, 2022, when he fired two rounds at a minivan passing past, according to federal prosecutors. People in the minivan returned fire, and a Divvy employee who was filling his work van with gas was wounded in the leg.
At 3:54 p.m., Williams arrived at the gas station in a Nissan Murano and pulled up next to a gas pump, according to security footage. According to prosecutors, he did not fill the vehicle with gas or enter the store. Instead, Williams remained in the SUV for about 15 minutes before exiting and walking towards the crossroads, where he waited for about 14 minutes with a revolver in his waistband, according to the government’s sentencing brief.
He then took out his rifle and fired twice at a minivan driving through the crossroads on a busy Friday afternoon.
“If his goal had been genuine, he would have intentionally killed one or more individuals.” Everyone at that intersection that day is fortunate to be alive, including [the] defendant,” Assistant United States Attorney Paul Schied stated in the government’s sentencing memorandum. A woman was standing just steps away from Williams when he opened fire on the minivan, according to Schied.
People in the vehicle opened the sliding door and returned fire.
Williams’ gun jammed after firing two shots. He ducked behind the Divvy van to clean the malfunction while the woman fled. The injured bystander staggered towards the back of the van, colliding with the woman before pulling himself inside to conceal, according to prosecutors.
Williams eventually freed the blockage, but he left two live rounds of ammunition on the ground. He then ran back to his Nissan Murano and drove away.
Williams pled guilty about a year ago to being a felon in possession of ammunition and was sentenced this month by United States District Judge Steven C. Seeger.
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