Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson: ‘If You Have a Magic Bullet' to Stop Violence, ‘Please Share'

Chicago's top cop addressed the murder of Nykea Aldridge and the city's violence from police headquarters Sunday

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson addressed the murder of 32-year-old Nykea Aldridge Sunday, expressing frustration over the city's overall violence and responding to Donald Trump's claim that it could be solved "in a week."

"If you have a magic bullet to stop the violence anywhere, not just in Chicago, but in America, then please share it with us," Johnson said when asked about Trump's remarks. "We’d be glad to take that information and stop this violence."

Trump said in an interview Monday that he met a "top" Chicago police officer who told him that he could "stop much of this horror show that’s going on" in the city within a single week using "tough police tactics."

Chicago Police denied that claim, saying in a statement, "We've discredited this claim months ago. No one in the senior command at CPD has ever met with Donald Trump or a member of his campaign."

The Republican presidential nominee also prompted harsh criticism when he tweeted that the death of Aldridge, a mother of four and the cousin of Bulls star Dwyane Wade, was an example of why black voters would support him.

Aldridge was fatally shot while pushing a stroller on the city's South Side Friday afternoon.

"I gotta tell you, I’m so sick of every weekend talking about the murders that happen in the streets," Johnson said Sunday.

"We have 1400 individuals that drive this gun violence in this city. This isn't a mystery. We've gotten very good at predicting who will be the perpetrators or victims of gun violence - these guys choose that lifestyle. But they continue it because we continuously show them there's no consequence," he added.

While announcing charges filed against two brothers in Aldridge's death, Johnson used the case to speak more broadly on crime in Chicago and specifically, repeat offenders.

Derren Sorrells, 22, is a documented gang member with six prior felony arrests, according to police, out on parole for motor vehicle theft and escaping custody. He was on his daily break from an electronic monitoring bracelet at the time of Friday's shooting, Johnson said.

Darwin Sorrells, 26, was also on parole for a gun charge. He was sentenced to to six years in prison in January 2013 and released early in February 2016, according to police. Both men were charged with first degree murder and attempted murder.

"This tragedy isn’t just noteworthy because Miss Aldridge has a famous family member," Johnson said. "It’s noteworthy because these two offenders are the prime example of the challenge we face here in Chicago with repeat gun offenders that don’t care who they shoot, don’t care whose life they take, and clearly, clearly don’t fear the consequences of their actions."

"When will enough be enough? How often do we have to stand at a podium like this, demanding from our judicial and policy partners some type of resolution?" Johnson asked.

Johnson also addressed criticism that the Chicago Police Department made arrests in Aldridge's death so quickly only because her relation to Wade made the case more high-profile, while hundreds and even thousands of cases that don't garner such national attention go unsolved.

"You know why we catch them right away? Because the community helped us with it," Johnson said. "Police officers very rarely witness crime, especially murder... so we need the community’s help, we need their input for us go out and get these individuals and hold them accountable."

"We take every death in Chicago seriously, but we need the community’s help in bringing these cases to a successful resolution."

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