Chicago police charge suspect for murder of Cook County judge

Joshua Smith was arrested and charged for the murder of Cook County Judge Raymond Myles. (Photo: Chicago Police)

A 37-year-old man has been arrested and charged in the murder of Cook County Judge Raymond Myles, the Chicago Police Department announced at a Wednesday press conference.

Joshua Smith, who allegedly drove the getaway car during the incident, has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and obstruction. Police indicated robbery was the motive for the shooting and that Myles was targeted, but said the shooting was not related to Myles’ work as a judge.

Chief of Detectives Melissa Staples said the investigation was ongoing and that officers had run ballistic tests on shell casings from the scene and found that the gun was used in another armed robbery this past January. A victim was also shot during that robbery but not fatally.

“It underscores the very real problem of illegal guns that are used over and over to cause havoc in some of our communities by individuals who also commit these crimes multiple times over and over,” Staples said.

Surveillance footage has also played a major role in the investigation so far and helped police identify the license plates on the getaway vehicle, Staples said.

Staples highlighted that they believe Smith did not act alone and that many details of the murder investigation will come out in the next few days.

Myles and his girlfriend were shot early Monday morning in front of the judge’s home on the far south side of Chicago.

The woman was the first to encounter the assailant and was shot in the leg. Myles then came outside to confront the armed offender and was shot four times and killed.

Police have not said whether or not Smith was the shooter, but noted Smith had previously been convicted and served six years for armed robbery.