Trio charged in shooting that paralyzed off-duty Chicago police officer in Beverly

CHICAGO - There was an outpouring of community support on Tuesday for 32-year-old Chicago police officer Danny Golden, who was shot in the back and paralyzed while trying to break up a bar fight over the weekend.

In the afternoon, a Cook County judge at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse ordered three men charged with shooting Golden held without bond. Dozens of Chicago police officers filled the courtroom to show support for one of their own.

"He’s shot in the back by these cowards," 19th Ward Alderman Matt O’Shea said after court. "He’s paralyzed. He’s getting married next year. And he won’t be able to walk down the aisle."

Attempted murder chargers have been filed against 22-year-old Bryant Hayes and Justen Krismantis, and 28-year-old Demetrius Harrell. Prosecutors said in court the three suspects got into a fight with customers at a Beverly bar early Saturday morning that spilled outside.

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Prosecutors said the off-duty Officer Golden was acting as a peacekeeper and was walking away from the suspects when one pulled out a gun and began firing.

"Defendant Hayes fires’s the automatic weapon which fires bursts of several bullets at a time," said Assistant Cook County Staye’s Attorney James Murphy, reading from the court proffer. "Police later recovered a total of 19 fired 40-caliber shell casings at the scene."

Golden was hit in the back, severing his spine and paralyzing him below the waist.

"It’s tragic what happened," said Liam Hopkins, a friend of Golden’s family. "There’s no answer for any of that. Danny Golden serves our community and he served our country selflessly over the last eight years."

Golden is a US Army veteran and a third generation Chicago police officer.

Prosecutors said they recovered text messages showing the three suspects laughing about what happened.

"The defendants also joked about the incident afterwards stating, "let’s get drunk this weekend and start a bar fight." And, "that (expletive) was fun they beat my ass too."

Alderman O’Shea said that even though Golden was paralyzed, he will still be a valuable asset to the Chicago Police Department.

"Mark my words, Danny Golden will remain a Chicago police officer contributing to turn things around and swinging that pendulum back in the city. Because right now things are absolutely out of control," O'Shea said.