A man with a lengthy criminal record has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for shooting at three Chicago police officers who were attempting to help his ex-girlfriend reclaim her dog during a disagreement in Rogers Park nearly six years ago.
Kenneth Olugbode, 37, pled guilty Monday to three charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm toward a peace officer, and Judge Sharon Kanter sentenced him to 21 years on each count, to be served concurrently.
No officers were struck by gunfire during the December 8, 2020, confrontation near Clark and Devon. When the officers returned fire, Olugbode was shot many times, injuring his shoulders, right hip, and right hand.
The altercation marked the end of a two-day conflict that began when Olugbode accused his ex-girlfriend of stealing money from him, according to officials. The day before the incident with police, Olugbode arrived at the woman’s house and accused her of stealing his money, pointing a weapon and demanding its return, and ordered her to accompany him to his house to look for it.
The woman became increasingly terrified while driving to Olugbode’s house and attempted to exit the vehicle, but Olugbode grabbed her and forced her back inside, according to prosecutors. According to prosecutors, Olugbode did not have the gun out at the house, but he did have it with him while he raged and demanded that she continue hunting for his money.
When Olugbode entered another room, the woman fled and contacted the police. As she spoke with authorities outside, she noticed Olugbode driving away. The authorities later discovered a message Olugbode sent to the woman, which had a video of her dog inside his vehicle. According to prosecutors, he threatened to murder the animal or put it in the trunk if she did not bring him the money.
The woman continued to communicate with Olugbode because she wanted her puppy back and promised to pay him whatever he wanted in exchange for the dog.
The morning of the shooting, she called police and told them she and Olugbode were planning to meet for an exchange. She wanted officers close. Officers were driving in unmarked vehicles when the woman told them that Olugbode’s automobile was following them. The officers let him pass before activating their emergency equipment. According to police, Olugbode continued driving, disobeying traffic signals, until officers boxed him in at the 6900 block of North Ravenswood.
As authorities ordered him to reveal his hands, Olugbode allegedly exited the truck and stood behind the open door. He raised a weapon, pointed it at three policemen, and shot twice, according to prosecutors.
The cops returned fire, shooting a total of 19 shots. Olugbode’s vehicle, which had not been put in park, slid forward and collided with a squad car. According to the prosecution, body-worn camera footage captured the shooting, but the city is unable to release it to the public due to a judge’s order.
Olugbode’s criminal record includes convictions for aggravated battery resulting in serious bodily harm in 2008, unauthorized use of a weapon by a felon in 2012 and 2016, and felony narcotics possession in 2014.
Last year, Olugbode unsuccessfully sought to be released from pretrial incarceration under the SAFE-T Act. Following his challenge to the circuit court’s decision, a state appellate court upheld his detention. According to the appellate judgment, Olugbode presented witnesses in favor of his parole request, including a Chicago Reader news editor who had formerly worked for a prison reform organization and knew Olugbode for two years.
At the time of the Chicago incident, Olugbode had an outstanding warrant in Louisiana for attempted second-degree murder. As of last December, authorities said the Louisiana warrant was still active.
That lawsuit resulted from an October 2020 home invasion in New Iberia, Louisiana, in which three individuals pretended to be delivery carriers to gain access to a property. Prosecutors alleged they detained the residents using zip ties and duct tape. One of the males, named Olugbode, allegedly battered the male resident with a firearm and threatened to kill him. The intruders seized photography and filmmaking equipment valued between $30,000 and $35,000. According to court documents, the male victim recognized Olugbode’s distinctive eyewear and facial features after viewing security footage.
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