Chicago Officers and Suspect Hospitalized After South Shore Gunfight

A traffic stop turned violent when a fleeing driver opened fire on two officers, leaving all three wounded.

Chicago Officers and Suspect Hospitalized After South Shore Gunfight

A routine vehicle stop turned deadly on the evening of July 3 when a driver fled, then opened fire on pursuing officers in Chicago's South Shore area.

The confrontation unfolded around 5 p.m. near the 2000 block of East 79th Street. Patrol personnel had halted an unusual, self-built automobile when the occupant ran, according to Police Superintendent Larry Snelling. The officers chased him down, and a physical struggle ensued.

During the scuffle, the man reportedly pulled a weapon from a bag and fired at Officer Carl Williams, 27. The round struck Williams' protective vest. Williams discharged his own weapon in response, hitting the assailant several times. Fellow officer Esteban Cervantes, 30, also suffered a gunshot wound to the arm. Authorities are probing whether Cervantes was accidentally struck by police fire.

Mayor Brandon Johnson confirmed Cervantes had surgery and is recovering. Williams avoided surgery because his body armor absorbed the impact. Both have served the department for four years. The suspect remained in critical condition at Northwestern Memorial.

The wounded officers will be assigned desk duty for a minimum of one month. A large police presence, including accountability investigators and federal agents, gathered at the location afterward.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)