Man Sentenced to 10 Years Over Shooting At Correctional Officer in River West Bar

A man who fired at least twice at a now deceased Cook County correctional officer has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Mario “Booty” Orta pleaded guilty to the shooting in River West in 2015, reported the Sun Times.

The media report showed surveillance video played a major part in the prosecution. The video showed he fired at least twice at the correctional officer. The bullets did not hit the officer.

Orta changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced in July to 10 years in prison, according to court records.

The 30-year-old defendant was charged with attempted first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a gang member.

Prosecutors said Orta was one of three men who were part of a shooting outside the now closed down Funky Buddha Lounge in the 700 block of West Grand.

Correctional officer Michael Raines did not die as a direct result of the shooting incident. However, his family claimed his death from an overdose of fentanyl-laced heroin was linked to stress from the shooting.

The shooting highlights gang activity in Cook County. According to reports, Raines and his girlfriend left Richard’s Bar just north of downtown. As they were walking on to Milwaukee Avenue to their car they heard gunshots. Raines ran toward the shooting. He had a Ruger LCP .380 semiautomatic pistol in his back pocket.

Police said Orta and Fernando “Fern” Lopez, both 27 — were part of a street gang. They left the Funky Buddha, with friends, according to police records.

They attempted to escape from an accident scene. Raines drew his Ruger and identified himself as a police officer. He ordered Lopez to drop his gun. Instead, prosecutors said, Lopez turned toward the officer, and Raines shot him.

In a subsequent struggle surveillance footage showed Orta shooting at Raines at least twice. The Sun Times report said Raines was not hit. Lopez ended up with 10 gunshot wounds.

Raines suffered problems after the incident. He was reprimanded for using a handgun that was not qualified with through the Cook County Sheriff’s Training Institute.

After the shooting his parents told detectives he developed serious emotional problems and aggravated an old back injury in the struggle. They said these issues were a catalyst for his fatal drug overdose.

The sentence reveals the tough stance Chicago takes on gun crimes and street gang members. If you have been charged with an offense of this nature, please call our Chicago criminal defense lawyers for a free consultation at (312) 229-0008.