Man found guilty in killing of Metra police officer

MARKHAM, Ill. (AP) - An Illinois man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of a Metra commuter rail police officer nine years ago.

A Cook County jury convicted 28-year-old Jemetric Nicholson in the 2006 shooting of Thomas Cook on Thursday, three months after a jury failed to reach a verdict in the case.

Prosecutors said Nicholson worked with two other men to sneak up on Cook as he sat inside his marked squad car. The officer was on patrol near the 147th Street Metra station in Harvey when he was shot twice in the back of the head.

No physical evidence tied Nicholson to the slaying. However, prosecutors noted witnesses consistently identified Nicholson as the shooter.

Defense attorneys noted many of the witnesses are facing serious charges of their own or serving time in prison.