18-year-old charged in shooting of 2 Chicago cops in Back of the Yards

CHICAGO (WLS) -- An 18-year-old man was charged in connection with the shooting of two Chicago police officers last week in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, police said Saturday.

Angel Gomez faces two counts of attempted murder. Gomez is the first person charged in the shooting. Police said they know the identity of the shooter and are

He is accused of being the driver of a vehicle carrying someone armed with an assault rifle who shot at the two undercover police officers. The unmarked, gray tactical van carrying the cops was riddled with bullets from a high-powered .223 rifle.

Both officers survived and were released from the hospital on Wednesday.

The officers, from the 9th District, were conducting a gang investigation at about 9:10 p.m. following an incident earlier in the day near West 43rd Street and South Ashland Avenue when a minivan pulled up and the people inside opened fire on their tactical van.

At a press conference Sunday, police said that the tactical van was following an SUV after a gang-related shooting. After losing the SUV, a minivan pulled alongside the unmarked van and someone inside fired a high-powered rifle into the police van.

After learning that the shooting involved Chicago police officers, gang members cooperated with police and provided information leading to the identities of the suspects.

Police said Gomez confessed to his role in the shooting and is expected to appear in bond court Monday.