The Briefing
- A man being escorted out of Loretto Hospital in Chicago jumped into a parked ambulance belonging to Cicero, Illinois and fled with a paramedic aboard.
- The incident triggered a high-speed pursuit through Chicago’s West Side, ending in multiple crashes and shots fired by police.
- Three officers and four civilians were treated for injuries; the suspect was arrested and the incident is under investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA).
From Hospital Escort to Vehicle Hijacking
On the afternoon of November 7, 2025, security personnel were escorting a man out of Loretto Hospital when he bolted into a nearby waiting ambulance belonging to the Cicero Fire Department. The paramedic inside the vehicle had only just completed a patient transfer and was still aboard when the ambulance took off.
Thrill Ride Through the Streets
The stolen ambulance sparked a chaotic pursuit through Chicago’s West Side as officers from Chicago Police Department (CPD) hovered in pursuit. The driver crashed into several vehicles—including marked police units—and at one point a CPD officer discharged their firearm toward the suspect, though no one was struck.
A Dangerous Conclusion
The chase came to an end near the intersection of Cicero and Chicago avenues when the ambulance collided with multiple cars and the suspect attempted to flee on foot. A large contingent of officers quickly subdued him and took him into custody. Three officers and four civilians were transported to hospitals with minor injuries; the suspect was also treated and remains in police custody. ABC7 Chicago+1
Tactical Takeaways
This incident offers several critical lessons for patrol and tactical teams:
- Vehicle awareness: An ambulance—a seemingly benign asset—became a high-threat vehicle in hostile hands.
- Rapid escalation: What began as a hospital escort evolved into a pursuit, collisions, and use of force in under minutes.
- Incident command importance: Coordination between hospital security, paramedics, local police, and pursuit units was essential to mitigate greater harm.
In short — no assignment is “low-risk.” From hospital drives to traffic stops, readiness matters.