Slain Chicago Cop: 4-Time Felon Charged With Murder (VIDEO)

CHICAGO, IL — A career criminal with four previous felony convictions is accused of fatally shooting Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer on Tuesday at the Thompson Center, according to authorities. Shomari Legghette, 44, was charged with first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, armed violence and drug possession in connection with the incident, Chicago police Supt. Eddie Johnson said at a press conference Wednesday.

Legghette was wearing body armor at the time, and police recovered a semiautomatic weapon with 30-round extended clip, Johnson said. His bond hearing is set for Thursday.

Bauer, 53, was gunned down Tuesday, Feb. 13, while trying to help police tactical officers apprehend Legghette, who they wanted to question while seeing him act suspiciously during a narcotics sweep near the Thompson Center, according to Johnson. The commander had been on duty at the center for a training session and was in full uniform when he joined the foot pursuit after hearing a radio alert about the incident.

Bauer confronted Legghette, who struggled with the officer and pulled him into a stairwell outside the center, police said. That's when Legghette allegedly fired seven shots, killing Bauer, who never open fired with his own weapon, according to police. No other officers fired shots, either, authorities said.

An autopsy determined that Bauer died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. His death has been ruled a homicide.

RELATED: Chicago Police Commander Gunned Down At Thompson Center (VIDEO)

Johnson was joined at the press conference announcing the charges by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx and Det. Cmdr. Brendan Deenihan. The superintendent and mayor were both emotional when talking about Bauer's 31-year service to the city as a Chicago police officer.

Emanuel called the fallen commander "a public servant, top to bottom," and he struggled to hold back tears when he discussed the loss Bauer's wife, Erin, and his 13-year-old daughter, Grace, must now deal with in the wake of the tragic shooting.

RELATED: Blue Ribbons, Flags Honor Chicago Police Cmdr. Paul Bauer (VIDEO)

"Bauer's family deserves what any member of the CPD family deserves: a level of justice," he said.

Johnson said anyone looking to help the Bauer family can donate to the Paul Bauer Memorial Fund at any Chicago Patrolmen's Federal Credit Union location.

Legghette has a long criminal history, with several felony convictions. Before Tuesday's shooting, he was last arrested by Chicago police in 2014, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. At that time, Legghette was convicted of drug possession and sentenced to two years in prison, the report added.

RELATED: Cmdr. Paul Bauer: Learn How Slain Cop Spent 31-Year CPD Career

He was sentenced to 16 years in prison for armed robbery in 1998, and he received 30 days of community service for a battery conviction in 2011, the report stated. In 2007, Legghette was convicted of possession of a defaced firearm and sentenced to three years in prison, the report added. According to the Sun-Times, he also was charged with possessing body armor as a felon in that incident, but he was not convicted on that charge.

"I think it's crystal clear to anyone that some people don't deserve to walk the streets of Chicago," Johnson said of Legghette and his long rap sheet.

Patch will continue to update this story.

Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer (Photo via Chicago Police Department)