Chicago cop shot in Brighton Park after gunman shoots security guard; suspect dies in shootout with police, CPD says
4th Chicago police officer shot in 2 weeks, Supt. Brown says
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Chicago police officer has been released from the hospital after he was shot in the line of duty in the Brighton Park neighborhood Thursday afternoon.
The 9th District officer was shot during a foot chase around 5 p.m. in the 2400-block of W. 46th Street as he pursued a shoplifting suspect who shot a security guard at a nearby Home Depot, Supt. David Brown said.
WATCH | Supt. Brown shares details about officer shot in Brighton Park
The alleged gunman, who kept running after shooting the guard and police officer, was killed later in a shootout with other officers, police said.
The officer was shot in the shoulder and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Brown said. He was released from the hospital Thursday evening.
WATCH | Chicago police salute wounded officer as he leaves hospital
The guard, who was in his early 50s, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago fire spokesman Larry Merritt said. In a statement, police said the guard was shot in his head.
When the suspect fled, officers pursued and one officer was shot, Brown said. The officer was being treated at Mount Sinai, though Brown declined to release his name or any information about him.
Following that shooting, other officers continued to pursue the suspect, Brown said. The suspect was then shot and killed during a shootout with police, Brown said.
At the scene of the shooting, police officers blocked off a residential stretch of 46th Street between Western Avenue and Rockwell Street as residents congregated behind the police tape to catch a glimpse of the investigation and exchange rumors over the sound of helicopters.
In the last two weeks, three other Chicago cops have been wounded in shootings.
"I get questions all the time about what is the department doing about violence, what are we doing about the shootings, what are we doing about the homicides. What we are doing is risking our lives every day to protect this city," Brown said.
He noted that law enforcement officers across the country are "under attack," reflecting on the cop who was shot and killed responding to the recent mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado.
"But here in Chicago ... it's the idea that cops are putting their lives on the line every day and it seems that these offenders are acting with impunity," Brown said. "And yet with hyper-criticism, officers continue to run toward danger."
"This anti-police sentiment that's swept this city, state, and country needs to change," FOP President John Catanzara said.
RELATED | Man who shot CPD officer wanted to 'lure' cops to area, prosecutors say
Last Saturday, an officer was shot in her hand during a SWAT standoff in the Austin neighborhood by a man who allegedly wanted to "lure" cops to the area. On March 15, an off-duty officer was ambushed by two gunman while stopped in traffic in the Calumet Heights neighborhood.
RELATED | Off-duty Chicago police officer ambushed, shot in Calumet Heights
And a day before that, an on-duty CPD sergeant was shot while standing in the parking lot of the Gresham District police station, at 7808 S. Halsted St. The bullet grazed his chin, and he was released from a hospital later that day.
RELATED | CPD sergeant shot outside 6th District station
Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to contact 312-746-3609 or visit chicagocopa.org.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
