2 CPD officers fatally struck by train while chasing armed suspect

CHICAGO (SUN TIMES MEDIA WIRE) - Two Chicago police officers were killed when they were struck by a South Shore line train Monday evening as they chased an armed suspect on the Far South Side, police said.

Shortly after 6 p.m., the officers responded to a call of shots fired near the intersection of 101st Street and Dauphin Avenue in the Rosemoor neighborhood, according to Chicago police Supt. Eddie. The officers then chased a suspect up to the train tracks at 103rd Street and Cottage Grove Avenue, where they were struck by the eastbound train.

The officers were pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

The Cook County Medical examiner’s office didn’t immediately confirm their deaths.

Johnson identified the officers as Eduardo Marmolejo, 36, and Conrad Gary, 31. Marmolejo was on the force for 2 1/2 years and Gary was had been an officer for 18 months. Both were fathers.

A suspect taken into custody and a gun was recovered at the scene, said Johnson,

“A devastating tragedy occurred tonight,” police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted.

GOFUNDME PAGES FOR EDUARDO MARMOLEJO AND CONRAD GARY

About 6:20 p.m., Metra officials were informed that the officers had been struck by eastbound South Shore Line train 119, which left Millennium Station at 5:58 p.m., according to Metra spokeswoman Sylvia Cooper. As a result, all power was shut down on the Metra Electric District Line from 69th Street to 115th Street.

As of 11:35 p.m., outbound Electric District trains were operating to 95th Street, where passengers were then being bused to the Kensington station to meet outbound trains to University Park, according to Metra’s website. Inbound Electric District trains were operating up to the Kensington station, and riders were then being bused to 95th Street to meet inbound trains to Millennium Station.

Inbound Electric District train 148, which was scheduled to leave the University Park station at 10:40 p.m., had been canceled, Metra said.

As of 10:34 p.m., passengers from eastbound South Shore Line trains 19, 101, 121 and 123 were being bused from Millennium Station to their final destinations, according to an alert. Passengers from westbound South Shore Line train 222 were being bused from the Hegewisch station to Millennium Station.

Eastbound CTA No. 106 buses were temporarily being rerouted in both directions from 100th Street, 103rd Street, King Drive and Cottage Grove Avenue due to street blockage, according to an alert.