Chicago Police officer talking and alert after being shot in the head in West Englewood

CHICAGO (CBS) — A Chicago Police officer was shot in the head throughout a site visitors cease Wednesday in West Englewood, however supply mentioned she was alert and talking after being taken to the hospital.

The officer and her accomplice, who’re each assigned to the Englewood (seventh) District, had been in a marked squad automotive trying a site visitors cease in the 6100 block of South Paulina Street round 5:42 p.m., in keeping with Police Supt. David Brown.

The automotive the officers had been making an attempt to tug over first sped up, and then slowed down to come back in parallel with the squad automotive, Brown mentioned. At that time, somebody in the automotive began firing a gun at the officers.

Police sources mentioned two photographs had been fired at the squad automotive. One bullet hit a door. The different went by means of the windshield. The officer who was driving was shot in the head. 

The officer who had been in the passenger seat drove the wounded officer to the University of Chicago Medical Center, in keeping with Brown.

Meanwhile, the offenders’ car crashed at sixty fourth and Bishop streets, and the offenders ran off, Brown mentioned.

Witnesses mentioned the offenders may need run in any variety of totally different instructions, presumably going right into a constructing close by.

Brown later added {that a} gun was situated in the space close to the scene the place the automotive crashed, together with automotive keys.

As CBS 2’s Jermont Terry reported, police moved in with weapons drawn as they looked for the escaped shooters.

Numerous officers had been seen racing down Ashland Avenue in response to the capturing, some from as far-off as the Town of Cicero. A large number of regulation enforcement helicopters had been additionally hovering overhead, together with one from as far-off as Indiana.

K9 officers had been introduced in. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had been additionally noticed at the scene.

SWAT crew members at one level surrounded one duplex, with the mission being to flush out the gunmen – who they consider had been hiding earlier than the darkish hit. But the gunmen remained on the unfastened late Wednesday.

BREAKING NOW: ATF Agents on scene serving to @Chicago_Police as the search proceed to search out shooters who shot officer in West Englewood. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/JqWmzPMj2j

— Jermont Terry (@JermontTerry) June 2, 2022

Back at the hospital, Brown mentioned the officer was in severe, however secure situation Wednesday evening. 

Police sources mentioned she is 27 years previous, and has been on the job for 3 years. The bullet that struck her fragmented, hitting her temple. A small piece went into her brain. There was no swelling, and the bleeding stopped by itself in her head. Another a part of the bullet went into her neck and shoulder. She was talking and alert the capturing, and was being handled in the intensive care unit.

At least two offenders are wished. Brown requested anybody who would possibly know something about the incident to step in and speak to police.

“Our officers are having difficulty in a very, very dangerous job, but they run toward danger,” Brown mentioned. “They risk their lives every single day for all of our safety – and a thank you would be much appreciated.”

Mayor Lori Lightfoot launched the following assertion Wednesday night:

“I am aware of the Chicago Police officer who was shot in the 7th District and have been in constant communication with Superintendent Brown since this outrageous attack on our officers occurred. My family and I will be praying for the injured officer and the entire Department as they grapple with yet another heinous and deliberate assault on our officers’ lives.  I have asked the Superintendent to use every resource possible to find the person responsible for this attempted murder of a police officer and bring them to justice.  Officers and detectives are hard at work on this urgent mission.

“I urge all Chicagoans to recollect the selfless sacrifice that cops make every single day for our security.  They danger their lives every single day to maintain us protected.

“As we begin the very first day of gun violence awareness month, this is yet another example of why we must have a deep sense of urgency and wholehearted determination to rid our streets of illegal guns. We must have federal legislative action.  We all must be united against one of our common enemies:  the easy access to illegal guns–full stop.”

Outside the University of Chicago Medical Center, officers gathered for a present of help for the injured officer. The officer’s accomplice who drove her to the hospital was additionally admitted to the U of C Medical Center and was launched Wednesday evening.

The officer who was shot remained hospitalized.

Meanwhile, a command heart was arrange exterior the Englewood District police station at 1438 W. 63rd St., solely a block from the place the suspected gunmen ran off.