Both officers are expected to be OK. The officers were riding in their squad car Monday around 10:45 p.m. when they spotted an alleged drug deal in an alley in near Karlov and Wilcox in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood, officials said. They turned into the alley and the offender opened fire. One of the officers returned fire, but the offender escaped.
The officers -- both 29 years old -- were wounded. One of the officers has a bullet lodged behind his ear. He is being treated at Stroger Hospital.
The other officer was treated for graze wounds to his head and arm. None of the injuries is considered life-threatening.
"God was with us tonight, for sure. Two officers got hurt, one shot in the head and the other grazed in the head. The officer struck in the head with a bullet is alert and talking. I had a conversation with him, and it appears he will be ok," said Supt. Garry McCarthy, Chicago Police Department. "One of the officers did return fire. We're not sure if the other officer even fired at this point. We're recovering evidence from the scene."
Many West Garfield Park residents did not want to talk about the shooting for fear of retaliation. A longtime resident said she is tired of the crime.
"It's a terrible neighborhood. Drugs up and down the street. Just terrible. It's terrible," Brenda Johnson said.
"It's starting to feel like the police department is under seige. This is the sixth police-involved shooting in 72 hours," said Pat Camden, Fraternal Order of Police.
