By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- A Chicago Police Department SWAT officer was shot in the lower abdomen July 20 while attempting to breach a residence in the Albany Park neighborhood where a man was barricaded with two hostages.
- The incident began around 11 a.m. when officers responded to reports of a shooting on the 4600 block of North Springfield Avenue, finding a 67-year-old woman critically wounded and a man barricaded inside with an additional woman and a 13-year-old girl.
- The SWAT officer’s bullet-proof vest protected him from a gunshot wound sustained when the suspect fired through the front door during breach operations; the officer was transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center for emergency surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.
- The two hostages were released by the suspect during negotiations; both were transported to Stroger Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries consistent with battering.
- The suspect surrendered to police hours after the shooting; police are investigating prior domestic incidents involving the suspect and whether the woman hostage was his girlfriend.
CHICAGO, ILL. — A Chicago Police Department SWAT team officer sustained a gunshot wound to the lower abdomen on July 20 during a barricade operation in the Albany Park neighborhood, with the armed suspect surrendering to police following hours-long negotiations.
Officers responded approximately 11 a.m. to the 4600 block of North Springfield Avenue following reports of a person shot. Upon arrival, officers located a 67-year-old woman who had sustained critical gunshot injuries. Officers administered life-saving measures while awaiting ambulance transport.
During initial scene assessment, officers determined that a male suspect had barricaded himself inside the residence with two additional individuals: an adult woman and a 13-year-old girl. Officers established a perimeter and contacted SWAT personnel for a tactical response.
SWAT officers attempted to breach the residence door. As personnel moved to make entry, the suspect opened fire through the door, striking one SWAT officer in the lower abdomen. The officer was equipped with a ballistic protective vest which prevented more severe injury. The officer was transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center for emergency surgical evaluation and treatment.
CPD Interim Superintendent Fred Waller stated that the officer has been with the Chicago Police Department for approximately 20 years and has served on the SWAT team for at least 12 years. Waller reported the officer was expected to make a full recovery and was receiving visits from family members.
While officers were responding to the shooting, negotiators established contact with the suspect. During negotiations, the suspect released both hostages from the residence. The adult woman and 13-year-old girl were transported to Stroger Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries consistent with physical trauma.
Police are investigating whether the adult woman hostage was the suspect’s girlfriend. Authorities stated that the critically wounded 67-year-old woman is believed to be the mother of one of the individuals held hostage.
After hours of negotiations, the suspect surrendered to police. CPD has not released the suspect’s identity or age. Investigators are examining whether the suspect had prior domestic violence incidents.
Mayor Brandon Johnson stated that domestic violence constitutes a serious problem in Chicago. “We are grateful that our Police Department, as well as our SWAT team in particular, were able to deescalate the situation,” Johnson said.