Chicago City Wire

Pat O'Brien, a onetime Republican candidate for Cook County State's Attorney, said current State's Attorney Kim Foxx refused to charge a man with murder last year, and over the weekend that man was involved in a triple shooting. 

"#FoxxFails to charge murders. Ishmael Simpson was charged this week with the April 2021 murder of Jawon Ward. Kim Foxx had rejected the same charge against Simpson in December of 2021. What changed - not the evidence. Simpson was caught fleeing from a triple shooting days ago. Kim Foxx too little, too late. You can’t trust her judgment #FireFoxx," O’Brien posted on Facebook.

Reputed gang member Ishmael Simpson has been charged in a murder case that took place last year after he was involved in a triple shooting this past weekend, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Simpson, age 24, was suspected of entering a Lawndale hair salon in April 2021 and repeatedly shooting a rival gang member, who later died. Hair Trendsetters Beauty and Barber Shop captured surveillance footage of the incident, and 15 shell casings were recovered from the scene. 

Simpson was arrested 2 days later in a felony gun case unrelated to the murder, wearing the same "distinctive" outfit he had worn at the time of the hair salon attack. Despite the fact that Simpson's cellphone contained photos and videos of his murder victim, as well as a page from the victim's grand jury testimony against another gang member, Simpson was not arrested for the murder - until the evening of Oct. 9, 2022, when police say he was involved in a shooting in the 3300 block of West Ohio Street which left 3 people injured. 

Video footage showed Simpson shooting someone and then kicking him. Simpson tossed a handgun before police officers took him into custody. He is now facing charges of first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, and resisting or obstructing a peace officer. He was on parole at the time of his latest arrest. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 24, and he is currently being held without bail.

Foxx has dismissed all charges against 30% of felony defendants during her first three years in office, according to the Chicago Tribune.

O'Brien told WTTW that Foxx "refused to charge over 100 murderers in 2019, more than double any prior state’s attorney, despite the fact she was presented with compelling evidence of these horrendous violent crimes by local law enforcement." 

O'Brien has been an attorney for 45 years, 18 of which he worked as a prosecutor. 

O'Brien won the Republican nomination for Cook County State's Attorney in 2020, securing almost three-quarters of the primary election vote, but lost to Foxx in the general election.