JB Pritzker Photographed With Man Now Facing Murder Charges

A week after Illinois’ Democratic Governor JB Pritzker was photographed meeting with a community “peacekeeper,” the man he was seen with was charged with murder and it was revealed that, according to multiple reports, that the person also had outstanding warrants in several states.

A photo of the governor with Kellen McMiller circulated online following the event, though the office has reportedly had it removed after being notified of the arrest, according to a report by Fox News 32.

Newsweek reached out to Pritzker’s press team for comment via email on Thursday.

Why It Matters

The photo has drawn attention after McMiller, 35, was charged by the Cook County State’s Attorney for allegedly being involved in what it called a “highly orchestrated smash-and-grab burglary” of a Louis Vuitton store in Chicago, which allegedly ultimately led to the death of an bystander.

McMiller, along with six others, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, burglary and retail theft in relation to the incident.

The incident came days after McMiller was photographed next to the Democratic governor at an event on efforts to reduce violence. Some critics have raised concerns about McMiller being made available to stand next to the governor despite having multiple warrants against him in several states.

Kellen McMiller, left, poses with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at a September 5 event.

Chicago Sun-Times/ Office of the Governor

What To Know

Pritzker met with and took photos with several “peacekeepers,” on September 5, speaking with case managers and victim advocates working to limit gun violence in the city. The meetings came amid rising concerns that federal law enforcement was going to be sent to Chicago along with increased immigration enforcement.

In a press release at the time, the governor’s office said “local collaboration is the key to success with intervening in the systemic cycle of violence,” noting that “the Peacekeepers program sends trained community members out to de-escalate and mitigate conflicts in the most violent hotspots in the city.”

Less than a week later, McMiller who was seen in the photo wearing a “peacekeeper” shirt was alleged by police to have been involved in the smash-and-grab incident.

The alleged theft took place on early September 11, when authorities say “at least a dozen offenders” arrived at the store in “six stolen vehicles,” with one car breaking the store’s windows, with the suspects then loading around $700,000 worth of merchandise into their vehicles.

“We were extremely troubled to learn that this individual was arrested for his alleged involvement in this serious crime, and we expect them to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The Governor will keep doing everything in his power to fight crime, keep our neighborhoods safe, and support community violence intervention, which have been proven to work,” Pritzker’s office said in a statement.

“For example, the Peacekeepers Program has a strong track record reducing violent crime by 41% over the past two years and providing community members with a path towards rehabilitation,” the statement concluded.

Local Fox 32 and the Chicago Sun Times reported that McMiller had multiple outstanding arrest warrants from Florida, Indiana and Wisconsin, at the time of meeting with the governor.

What People Are Saying

Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi told The Chicago Sun Times in a statement that Pritzker: “Can continue to grandstand about President [Donald] Trump’s initiatives to tackle crime in cities, but he is proving President Trump right everyday with the show of complete incompetence he puts on display.

“Gov. Pritzker would rather do a photo op with fugitives to bolster his leftist bona fides than do the work it takes to even figure out if his previous anti-violence programs he’s funding… are being co-opted by law breakers.”

Democratic State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said in a September 13 press release: “This case is a heartbreaking example of the threat that these organized retail theft operations pose to the entire community. Not only is the economic vitality of our city compromised by these crimes, but these offenders pose a physical danger to every one of us who live and work here. We will not tolerate it, and we will continue to seek detention and use all of our prosecutorial tools to bring accountability and appropriate charges to those who commit these brazen attacks.”