Man Charged In Orland Square Mall Shooting Needs Fitness Exam

ORLAND PARK, IL — The man accused of carrying out the 2019 Orland Square Mall shooting has yet to complete a fitness exam, due to a delay in obtaining medical records from Cermak Health Services at Cook County Jail, Southtown reports.

Jakharr Williams, now 23, of University Park, was the subject of an intensive manhunt after police said he shot a teen to death inside the busy shopping mall in January 2019. He was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, and has been held without bond at the Stateville Correctional Center since the shooting.

On Jan. 21, 2019, police responded to Orland Square Mall after receiving reports of a shooting inside. Officers found 18-year-old Javon Britton shot several times in the chest area. The Richton Park teen was pronounced deceased at Advocate Christ Medical Center. A bystander suffered a bullet graze wound to his leg.

The mall was evacuated and closed as police SWAT teams searched for the suspect. A man later identified as Williams was seen on mall surveillance video fleeing on foot. Police were able to identify him from witnesses, who said that Williams and Britton had gotten into some type of altercation.

Police said that Williams fled the mall and was on the run for three days until he was apprehended trying to board a Metra train in Matteson. At the time of his arrest, Williams was on parole from a three-year sentence for armed robbery.

In addition to the murder and attempted murder charges, Williams has been charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm.