Three suspects trying to flee the scene of a vehicle burglary intentionally crashed into two Chicago police cruisers before a trapped officer opened fire, fatally shooting one of the suspects.
From Burglary Call to Life-Threatening Ambush
What began as a routine response to a burglary in progress on Chicago’s West Side turned violent in seconds.
Shortly after 3:45 a.m. on September 6, officers from the Chicago Police Department’s 15th District were dispatched to a report of a vehicle break-in near the 5500 block of West Thomas Street.
As police approached, three suspects fled in a dark sedan—setting the stage for a confrontation caught entirely on body-worn cameras.
The Attack
When officers attempted to block the vehicle at Chicago and Waller Avenues, the suspects didn’t try to evade; they rammed the squad cars head-on, slamming one cruiser into another and pinning an officer inside.
Body-cam footage released by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) captures the chaos—officers shouting commands, metal crunching, and gunfire erupting as the trapped officer fights to survive.
One suspect was struck by police fire and later pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital. Two officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Another suspect was arrested on scene while a third remains at large. Investigators also recovered a firearm near the vehicle.
A Harsh Reminder of Split-Second Danger
The violent collision highlights how rapidly a routine property crime call can transform into a deadly ambush. Experts say the case reinforces the importance of vehicle positioning, situational awareness, and rapid coordination under pressure.
“It’s another reminder that there are no ordinary calls,” a Chicago Police supervisor told reporters. “These officers showed courage under conditions that could have easily turned fatal.”
Looking Ahead
The investigation remains ongoing as COPA reviews footage and forensic evidence. For officers nationwide, the event underscores an uncomfortable truth: even a burglary stop can become a battlefield in moments.