4 CPD officers among 9 injured in Washington Park crash while pursuing double shooting suspects

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Four people are in custody after Chicago police officers were injured in a crash while pursuing suspects in a South Side shooting, officials said.

CPD said the shooting happened outside of the 3rd Police District in the 7000 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue at about 3:30 p.m.

A 24-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were near the sidewalk when a vehicle pulled up, and at least one person inside opened fire, police said.

Police said the man, shot in his thigh, and the woman, grazed in her buttocks, were both transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.

Officers then found the vehicle involved in the shooting near East 54th Street and South State Street in the Washington Park neighborhood. That's when a crash happened.

Police vehicles were left mangled, and officers had to be extracted from the car.

The Chicago Fire Department said two CPD officers were transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. A third officer was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, and a fourth officer self-transported to a local hospital.

State Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar released a statement, saying her husband is one of the injured officers.

"Today my husband was one of the responding Chicago police officers injured in the traffic crash in the 5400 block of S. State St. We are surrounded by our family and family in blue. I ask that you keep everyone involved in your thoughts and prayers. This is the phone call no family ever wants to receive. Thank you for all the phone calls, text messages, prayers and support," Guerrero-Cuellar said.

Five civilians were taken to local hospitals in good condition, CFD said. Three of those people went to Insight Chicago and two went to Provident Hospital.

Police said took four offenders into custody and recovered two handguns. Charges are pending and Area One detectives are investigating.

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