May 17, 2021- 3:19 p.m.
CHICAGO — Two Chicago police officers were shot and wounded Sunday after they responded to reports of gunfire and someone immediately fired at them, authorities said.
Both officers were released from the hospital late Sunday morning.
The suspect also was shot in the leg and taken to a Chicago hospital, police said. His injuries were not life-threatening.
The shooting occurred around 7:20 a.m. in an alley on the city’s West Side. Police said the officers were responding to gunfire identified by ShotSpotter, the city’s gunshot detection system, and to multiple calls about shots fired. The officers were in full uniform and “readily identifiable” as police, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said during a news conference with Police Superintendent David Brown.
“This offender had no regard for their position as police officers. No regard. And began trying to kill them,” Brown said.
One officer was shot in the shoulder above his protective vest and in the hip. He was hospitalized in critical but stable condition prior to his release, Brown said. The other officer was shot in the hand and was in good condition, police said early Sunday.
According to Brown, 16 Chicago police officers have been shot in the past 15 months and 108 officers have been fired upon.
Lightfoot said Sunday’s shooting “underscores the danger that our men and women in the Police Department face every single day. They run to danger to protect us. And we can’t ever forget that.”
She also called for an end to the flow of illegal guns and gun violence in Chicago.
“Let’s say a prayer for all involved,” she said. “Let’s pray for peace in our city.”
“For 2021, there were 233 shooting incidents and 298 shooting victims, police data show,” the outlet noted based on CPD’s numbers. “In March of 2020, there were 146 shootings and 175 victims; in March 2019 there were 136 shooting incidents and 165 victims; and in 2018 there were also 136 shootings, with 151 victims.”
