Chicago police officer killed in double fatal East Chatham shooting ID'd; 1 in custody
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Tuesday has been and continues to be a very emotional day not just for everyone who works at District 6 and knew Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez, but for the community at large.
Dozens of people gathered inside the district on Tuesday afternoon to express their grief and support.
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Dozens of people began pouring into Chicago's District 6 Police Station, among them St. Sabina's Father Michael Pfleger, just before 2 p.m. Tuesday.
While ABC7's cameras were not allowed to remain for the prayer vigil that followed, it was clearly an emotional moment for the officers present, who Tuesday are mourning one of their own, 26-year-old Martinez.
"We're all in this together. We're family. And I said that to them in there. You're not strangers. You're our brothers, our sister, our friends. And that's how we need to begin to see each other," Pfleger said.
A nearly three-year veteran of the department, Martinez was killed Monday night just after 8 p.m. as he and others conducted a traffic stop in East Chatham.
According to police, there were three individuals inside the car. One of them, police said, opened fire on Martinez, killing him and the front-seat occupant. That person's identity has not been released.
"He was a proud individual, very hard working. And he gave his life for this city," CPD Supt. Larry Snelling said of Martinez.
The alleged shooter initially tried to flee the scene, striking a second police officer with his vehicle in the process.
"What we are calling for and what we anticipate and expect is a swift call to justice to make sure that those responsible for this tragedy are held accountable. And individuals who continue to seek terror in our city, we will hold you accountable," Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a late night press conference Monday.
That person was later taken into custody, Snelling said.
"We will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We're going to do the best possible investigation that we can, collect all of the evidence to make sure that we put people like this away so that they never see the light of day again," Snelling said.
Another person, who was in the backseat of the vehicle at the time of the shooting, was also taken into custody. That passenger, who was not involved in the shooting, was later released, police said on Tuesday.
While the details are still under investigation, Snelling confirmed one of those in the vehicle had an ankle monitor that had been cut off.
"We have to do everything that we can to keep violent offenders off the street, especially those who are repeating these acts," Snelling said. "If we don't do that, then we're failing our citizens. We're failing our children. We're failing their futures. We have to keep violent offenders off the street."
Johnson expressed his condolences as he joined Snelling and others outside the University of Chicago Medical Center on Monday night.
"I'm calling on all the residents of this city to pray for this family. But I'm also calling on the residents of this city to put our arms around one another and particularly our police department," Johnson said.
Police said they recovered two weapons, including one with an extended magazine.
"We have to say, 'Enough.' We cannot keep showing up to police district after police district, seeing our officers gunned down," said 15th Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez.
The exact circumstances surrounding the traffic stop have not been released.
Police said one of the officers on the scene managed to return fire, but it is not clear whether anyone was struck as a result.
"At this time, we know that there was one officer that discharged his weapon at the scene. Those officers' weapons are still being looked at right now," Snelling said. "There is evidence to recover. And that is all the information that we have on it right now."
The news about the suspect's ankle monitor led the Fraternal Order of Police president John Catanzara to call for more accountability in crime-fighting efforts.
"Does my face look surprised?" Catanzara said. "Sadly, it is not. In this county, in this city, it's just the status quo. Again, they are allowed to do whatever they want to do and you continue to make excuses."
The 6th District is one of the more violent neighborhoods in Chicago. In the past 12 months, there have been 2,053 violent crimes (homicide, criminal sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery) reported in the district.
It has the third highest violent crime rate of any district in the city with 237 violent crimes per 100,000 people, behind District 7 and District 11. However, violent crime is up 5.4% in the last 12 months three compared to the average of the prior three years.
However, some violent crimes, like homicides and shootings, are down in the district.
- There have been 63 homicides in district 6 in the last 12 months: Seven homicides per 100,000 people, down 11.3% compared to the average of the prior three years
- 652 robberies in District 6 in the last 12 months: 75 robberies per 100,000 people, up 10.8% compared to the average of the prior three years
- 247 shootings (both fatal and nonfatal) in the last 12 months: 28 shootings per 100,000 people, down 21.4% compared to the average of the prior three years
Traffic stops, like the one Martinez was conducting when he was killed, have become part of a disturbing trend in Chicago.
Retired CPD Sergeant Tracy Quarles was on the job for 25 years. He said his best friend and fellow officer was killed years ago on a traffic stop.
"I saw officer-involved shootings, officers getting shot from my first day on the job and up to watching the news last night," Quarles said Tuesday. "I let it play out in my mind. In terms of seeing friends and colleagues on the job to going to numerous funerals over the years."
Alderperson Silvana Tabares, who represents the 23rd Ward, wants to see more done to protect citizens and officers.
Her husband is a CPD officer. She sees the department losing seasoned officers.
Martinez is the fourth officer to die in the line of duty in the last two years. Officer Luis Huesca was killed in April of 2024, Officer Aréanah Preston was killed in May 2023 and Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso was killed in March 2023.
"We've lost many young officers, many young Latino officers in the past year and a half. With Officer Vásquez Lasso and Officer Huesca and now, Officer Martinez, it's very tragic. It is very sad for our city, and it's heartbreaking," Tabares said.
Martinez's death brought back tragic memories for Gold Star families like the family of Officer Thomas Wortham, who was shot and killed in 2010.
His sister, Sandra Wortham, said she was listening to the police scanners Monday night.
"Obviously, heartbreaking, another nightmare, really unbelievable that we are here again with one of our officers being taken from us," Wortham said. "We have to be realistic about what we are facing out here, our public safety challenge and get real about fixing it, because all of our lives depend on it, and that it not an exaggeration."
There was a somber procession for Martinez early Tuesday as a line of police vehicles escorted his body to the medical examiner's office.
Martinez leaves behind a heartbroken family, including, ABC7 is told, a fiancée and a brother who is also part of the police force.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating.
The officers involved will be placed on routine administrative duties for a minimum period of 30 days.
The Will County State's Attorney's Office issued a statement about the shooting, saying "The Will County State's Attorney's Office is cooperating with the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services and the Chicago Police Department with any assistance required in its investigation into the shooting death of Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez. The Will County State's Attorney's Office has no further comment on this ongoing Chicago Police Department Investigation."
CPD released a statement, saying, "The Chicago Police Department is mourning the loss of a courageous hero who protected our city until the very end. We stand heartbroken alongside his family and loved ones. In grief, we will #NeverForget."
Johnson released a statement, saying, "I am deeply heartbroken that we lost a member of the Chicago Police Department yesterday. The entire city of Chicago joins me in mourning this profound loss.
"Every day, the brave men and women of the Chicago Police Department risk their lives to keep our city safe, and yesterday, one of them made the greatest sacrifice.
"There will be justice for the officer's family. There will be justice for our city. And there will be justice for the Chicago Police Department. The whole city and I stand with the officer's family and loved ones, as well as the Chicago Police Department as they endure this tragedy.
"I will remain in constant communication with the Chicago Police Department as the investigation unfolds, and we will provide updates as they become available."
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