Knife-wielding man shot by Chicago police at Far South Side forest preserve, CPD officials say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- COPA responded to an officer-involved shooting on the Far South Side on Friday afternoon.

CPD officials said a knife-wielding man was shot and critically injured, and an officer was taken to a hospital for observation.

The 4th District officer is expected to be okay following the violent encounter that police say ended with a single shot being fired.

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The shooting happened on or near a walking trail in a normally-tranquil thicket of brush. The sound of gunfire echoed in the trees.

The Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Forest Preserves Police responded to a call of a man with a knife threatening and chasing another man after 1:15 p.m. in the East Side neighborhood's 3800-block of East 112th Street, at the Eggers Grove Forest Preserve, officials said.

The suspect allegedly pursued a responding CPD officer while wielding a knife before the officer fired his weapon at the offender and struck him once.

"The offender then quickly advanced toward the CPD officer on foot. The CPD officer attempted to create distance and de-escalate," a news release from Chicago police read in part. "The offender continued to pursue and the CPD officer then fired his weapon once, striking the armed offender in the body. Officers rendered first aid and applied a tourniquet to the offender..."

The suspect, who is in his 20s, was taken to University of Chicago Hospital in critical condition, sources and CPD officials said.

A police officer was taken to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn to get checked out and is in good condition, officials said.

Police said a knife was recovered on scene. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating.

COPA asked anyone with information to contact them at 312-746-3609 or chicagocopa.org.

The shooting came as a surprise to nearby residents, who said the nature area is usually quiet.

"People picnicking, jogging, bicycling," nearby resident John Castaneda said. "There's a family of deers that come out every night. We see them every night... Oh yes, it's a very tranquil neighborhood. It's not like this ever happened before."

The residents said it is a neighborhood of families, a lot of city workers live there, and there is a church across the street.

"It's usually a quiet neighborhood," another neighbor said. "There's a walking track back there a lot of people always walk on. It's unusual."

Forest Preserves of Cook County issued the following statement:
"A man at Eggers Grove forest preserve called 911 at 1:17 pm on February 28, 2025 reporting that a man he had encountered on the trail threatened him with a knife and chased him. Chicago Police Department and Forest Preserves of Cook County Police responded, and during the incident, the perpetrator was shot by the CPD officer. After the officers provided medical attention, the perpetrator was put under arrest by Forest Preserves Police and transported to University of Chicago Medical Center where he was last reported in critical condition. The victim was not injured in the incident."

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