Chicago police officer shot, injured in West Englewood, CPD says
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Chicago police officer was shot in the city's West Englewood neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, according to a police spokesperson.
CPD spokesman Tom Ahern tweeted a 7th District officer had been shot and was being taken to University of Chicago Hospital.
CPD Supt. David Brown said around 5:42 p.m. two officers - who were in uniform and driving a marked squad car - attempted a traffic stop near 61st and Paulina. The car they were attempting to stop at first sped off, then came back around and slowed down so they could pull up parallel to the officers' car and opened fire, striking the officer, who was the driver of the squad car.
WATCH: Supt. Brown's full update
Her partner then jumped into the driver's seat and rushed her to University of Chicago Hospital, Brown said. Her condition was upgraded from critical to serious, and stable, just before 7:30 p.m.
The shot officer's partner was also checked out at Northwestern and then released, with officials saying he was not injured in any way.
Nearby residents said they heard at least a handful of shots, and initially thought it could be fireworks. But when swarms of officers began arriving at the scene they knew it had to be a shooting.
The car containing the shooter then fled and crashed near 64th and South Bishop, and the people inside then fled on foot in different directions.
In a second update, Supt. Brown said police found car keys and a gun "in the immediate area" where the suspect fled after crashing the car.
Brown said witnesses told police the offenders may have fled into a nearby building. Police are now searching for the suspects in that area, have set up a perimeter and have also launched police helicopters to aid in the search.
Police said they are looking for more than one person.
Officers from the Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police and even the Cicero Police Department all responded to the scene. SWAT officers are also on the scene and involved in the search.
This shooting happened less than a mile from where Officer Ella French was shot and killed and her partner Officer Carlos Yanez, Jr. was critically wounded 10 months ago. Some in the community are fed up.
"You're killing our future right here. You're killing our future. This gotta stop. This gun stuff gotta stop," said Tonya Baldwin, who grew up in West Englewood.
"I'm very concerned about the children here in Englewood and the police officers getting shot and killed. It's just so sad," said Pastor James Cobb, Jesus Christ of Greater Faith.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot tweeted a statement about the shooting, saying in part, "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. "
The shooting comes on the heels of a violent Memorial Day Weekend during which all days off were canceled for cops. Police said 250 guns were taken off the streets over the holiday weekend, 75 on Memorial Day alone.
