Standoff ends; Wounded Chicago police captain in stable condition
CHICAGO (WLS) -- One man is dead, another is in police custody and a decorated Chicago police captain is recovering in the hospital after a 6-hour standoff in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood.
A Chicago police captain is in stable condition at Stroger Hospital after being shot while serving a warrant for an Indiana fugitive in Englewood. Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy says one of the suspects in the shooting is dead and a second man is in police custody. McCarthy did not say if the man who died took his own life, or was hit by gunfire from officers. Police were not releasing the name of either man.
This all began a little after 6 PM Tuesday at an apartment building in the 7200-block of South Lowe, the shooting drawing a massive police response complete with an armored vehicle, SWAT teams, and officers with automatic weapons. Law enforcement could be seen ducking behind vehicles and trees as the shooter remained in the building.
Sources tell ABC7 Eyewitness News that the officer who was shot is a decorated Chicago police captain from the 7th District. He was hit in the head and chest area, whether they were graze wounds or something more substantial, is unclear. A source tells ABC7 that the bullet did not penetrate his skull. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, initially in critical condition but has since been upgraded to stable. His name has not been released by CPD.
PHOTOS: Police officer shot in Englewood
The U.S. Marshals Service confirms that members of its Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force were at the building to serve an arrest warrant and Chicago police were assisting when the gunfire began, the shooter fired at officers and a standoff ensued.
Police brought in manpower, tried to make contact with the suspect and then eventually evacuated other residents from the apartment building.
Multiple police sources tell ABC7 that the alleged shooter who was holed up in the building was 42-year-old Daniel P. Brown. Brown's family says he is originally from Chicago, but had been living in Indianapolis.
Our ABC affiliate in Indianapolis said that Brown was wanted by authorities in Indianapolis for a crime spree over the weekend, including a carjacking and three separate shootings on Saturday. One of the shooting victims is the friend of Brown's fiance. The motive in the shooting is unclear.
Daniel P. Brown (Image Source: Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department)
Exactly why he ended up in Chicago is also unclear. There are reports he may have a relative who lives in that apartment building.
"It's a very complicated layout of this apartment complex," Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said. "It took us a while to get civilians out of the actual location. The scene is secured, all the civilians have been removed and there may be two individuals holed up in the apartment."
Chicago police officers gathered outside of Stroger Hospital where the captain was rushed for treatment.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel visited the wounded officer at the hospital Tuesday night. The mayor spent about a half an hour inside the building and left without making any comments.
VIDEO: Officers gather at Stroger Hospital for wounded captain
McCarthy spoke with the wounded police captain, as well as the captain's family.
"The most important thing is he's in great spirits, he's surrounded by his family and he's going to be okay," McCarthy said. "At this point, they're not even thinking about surgery, we don't know if they're going to do anything (Tuesday) night at all."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Chicago Police Department, their wounded officer, Superintendent Garry McCarthy, and to the officers still on the scene dealing with this volatile situation," Indianapolis Police Chief Richard Hite said in a statement. "The IMPD has been in contact with CPD and we will continue to monitor the situation. We encourage all of our citizens to pray for a peaceful conclusion, but justice must be served."
Metra Southwest Line train service was suspended during the standoff. Also, CTA No. 8 Halsted buses were temporarily rerouted in both directions via Halsted, 79th, Racine, 63rd, and Halsted.
Tune in to ABC7 Eyewitness News starting at 4:30 AM for the very latest.
