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Hate crime charges are possible, Johnson said.

The suspected gunman, Jackson, had once applied to be Chicago Police officer, but during the application process, he was arrested during a polygraph test for a background check for committing an armed home invasion, according to police. A judge put Jackson on probation, said Guglielmi.

Jackson \"once thought he had what it took to wear a Chicago police star,\" Johnson said.

When arresting the shooter Jackson, Detectives used Ofc. Rivera's handcuffs to place him into custody. Also, we learned from those in the car that when shots were fired, Rivera leaned over and shielded his girlfriend with his body from the gunfire. pic.twitter.com/DB1AvxbFhk

— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) March 25, 2019

But instead he allegedly committed the \"ultimate disgrace\" in \"an act of cowardice,\" said Johnson.

Jackson and his accused co-conspirator, Jovan Battle, 32, each face one felony count of first-degree murder and three felony counts of attempted murder, Guglielmi said on Twitter. Jackson also faces charges of resisting police, he said.

Accused shooter Menelik Jackson, 24 & co-conspirator Jovan Battle, 32 will each face 1 felony count of 1st degree Murder & 3 felony counts of Att. Murder. Jackson also faces charges of resisting police after trying to flee during arrest. Both defendants appear in bond court today pic.twitter.com/M9UdffFROi

— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) March 25, 2019

Guglielmi tweeted, \"Cooperating witnesses, 18th District's strategic decision support center, cameras and license plate reader technology which allowed us to enter the plate of the gettaway car into a database, led police to the shooters car on south side and ultimately, his apartment.\"

\"It's just a shame, this kid, 23 years old, had his whole life and career ahead of him, and he gets gunned down senselessly,\" Johnson, the superintendent, said at a press conference Saturday. \"Right now, I'm disgusted.\"

ABC News' Ryan Burrow, Olivia Rubin and Stephanie Wash contributed to this report.

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