Men held without bail in officer's slaying

Two men charged with killing an off-duty Chicago police officer were ordered held without bond today as prosecutors released new details about how an alleged robbery attempt ended in bloodshed.

Paris McGee, 20, and Toyious Taylor, 29, showed no emotion as a prosecutor announced they had been charged with the murders of Officer Thomas Wortham IV and their own friend, Brian Floyd, who was fatally shot while trying to steal Wortham's motorcycle.

The men, who authorities say were waiting in a getaway car during the alleged robbery attempt, could face the death penalty.

Wortham, an Army National Guardsman who recently completed his second tour in Iraq, had gone to his parents' Chatham home for dinner Wednesday on what prosecutors described as "a regular night."

Authorities say that as he prepared to leave around 11:30 p.m., Floyd, 20, and his 19-year-old cousin approached Wortham and tried to steal his motorcycle.

When the officer's father, retired Police Sgt. Thomas Wortham III, saw the men approach, he yelled at them to leave his son alone, authorities said. Floyd responded by shooting at the elder Wortham, Assistant State's Attorney Joe Cataldo said.

In that moment of distraction, Wortham IV pulled out his own gun and identified himself as a police officer. He and Floyd exchanged gunfire, during which Wortham was shot in the abdomen.

"That's when a regular night turned into a nightmare," Cataldo said.

Wortham's father rushed to a ground-floor bedroom, returned with a gun and saw Taylor and McGee pull up in a red car, authorities said. McGee, who was in the passenger's seat, flashed a handgun and yelled at his friends to get in the car, Cataldo said.

With Wortham lying in the street, his father opened fire on Floyd and his cousin.

Taylor and McGee fled the scene in the getaway car, striking Wortham's body and dragging him roughly a quarter-mile, Cataldo said.

Wortham was pronounced dead just after midnight Thursday.

"He survived two tours of duty in Iraq, but he couldn't survive dinner at his parents' home in our community," Cataldo said.

Floyd was pronounced dead at the scene. His cousin, who has not been charged yet, remains in critical condition at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

McGee turned himself in to police Thursday afternoon. Taylor was apprehended Thursday night during a traffic stop.

Wortham's father identified both men as the getaway car's occupants in a police lineup, Cataldo said.

According to court records, Taylor pleaded guilty in 2002 to drug charges and was sentenced to six years in prison. Last year, he served several days in Cook County Jail for a misdemeanor conviction.

McGee is on probation for a 2009 weapons conviction, records show. There also is a misdemeanor illegal gambling charge pending against him.

Both men are expected to return to court Monday.

McGee attended an alternative high school, where he played on the basketball team. He was scheduled to graduate next month, said his attorney, Anthony Burch.

His Facebook page -- on which he refers to himself as "Payroll McGee" -- lists his hobbies as "basketball, dice and robbin." In a box dedicated for a personal description, he wrote: "I hav no promlem wit pullin da trigger!!!!!"

Both McGee and Taylor appear in a rap video on Floyd's Facebook page for a song titled "I'm Crazy." During the three-minute video, which was posted Tuesday, the men appear to be smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol as they cruise in a white Mercedes Benz.

McGee's parents declined comment as they left the courthouse. Outside on the sidewalk, his relatives and friends hugged each other and wiped away tears before clasping hands in prayer.

"There are two sides to every story," Burch said.

Taylor's family also declined comment.

Wortham's parents did not attend the brief bond hearing. Earlier Saturday, the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation presented a $50,000 check to the officer's family.

Pastor Phillip Cusic of New Life Christian Ministries Church -- where Wortham III's mother is a congregant -- has been counseling the family since the shooting. Cusic said the tragedy could be a watershed moment for the city, in part because the Worthams are such exemplary people.

"You have a stable family and an Iraq veteran, a police officer who was working in the community," Cusic said. "This is something people can relate to."