Chicago cop shot in West Englewood while attempting traffic stop
CHICAGO - A Chicago police officer was shot and seriously wounded while she and her partner were trying to stop a car on the South Side Wednesday evening.
The incident unfolded around 5:40 p.m. in the 6100 block of South Paulina Street in the city’s West Englewood neighborhood.
Police Supt, David Brown said two officers in a marked squad car were attempting to pull over a vehicle when the offending vehicle sped up and then slowed down, allowing the officers to pull alongside.
The suspects then started firing into the police vehicle, Brown said.
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A female officer, who was driving, was struck in the shoulder by gunfire. Her partner then got behind the wheel and drove her to the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Brown, on Wednesday evening, said the officer is in serious, but stable condition. Her name had not been released.
After the shooting, two suspects fled on foot in different directions after crashing the car near 64th and Bishop streets. A SWAT team searched nearby buildings but no one was taken into custody. Police said they recovered a gun and car keys near the scene.
Brown said the license plate on the offenders' vehicle is being checked by police.
Late Wednesday night, a crowd of officers at the hospital applauded as the partner walked out and got into a waiting car.
The shooting occurred less than a mile from where Chicago police Officer Ella French was killed and her partner seriously wounded Aug. 7 last year in West Englewood. The officers were shot during a traffic stop at 63rd Street and Bell Avenue and returned fire, hitting and wounding at least one suspect, police said.
Brown said the latest shooting "highlights the danger of this job."
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"Today's incident just highlights the dangers of this job," said Supt. Brown. "They run toward danger, they risk their lives every single day for all of our safety."
Reverend Jesse Jackson visited the hospital Wednesday evening.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a statement calling the shooting an "outrageous attack."
"I am aware of the Chicago Police officer who was shot in the 7th District and have been in constant communication with Superintendent Brown since this outrageous attack on our officers occurred. My family and I will be praying for the injured officer and the entire Department as they grapple with yet another heinous and deliberate assault on our officers' lives. I have asked the Superintendent to use every resource possible to find the person responsible for this attempted murder of a police officer and bring them to justice. Officers and detectives are hard at work on this urgent mission. I urge all Chicagoans to remember the selfless sacrifice that police officers make every day for our safety. They risk their lives every day to keep us safe. As we begin the very first day of gun violence awareness month, this is yet another example of why we must have a deep sense of urgency and wholehearted determination to rid our streets of illegal guns. We must have federal legislative action. We all must be united against one of our common enemies: the easy access to illegal guns--full stop."
Ald. Stephanie Coleman (16th) also released a statement Wednesday evening asking residents to share any information they may have.
"Today’s senseless shooting has placed a dark cloud over our city tonight," the statement read. "There is no bigger cheerleader of our ‘good’ police officers than me. I am appealing to any of our residents who may have witnessed this cowardly act to dial 911 and give a detailed statement of what was witnessed."