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A police officer in Chicago was shot and killed Thursday night during what began as a street stop in Chatham and spiraled into deadly gunfire. The victim, a 36-year-old woman with four years on the force, died after being hit while trying to apprehend a suspect who bolted into a building on South Drexel Avenue. She leaves behind a young daughter.
Routine Patrol Escalates into Chaos on South Drexel
It was just shy of 10 p.m. when officers from the 6th District spotted a man they intended to question in the 8200 block of South Drexel. He ran. They followed. But as they moved in, another man, this one reportedly carrying a rifle, emerged inside the building.
One officer fired, though it’s still unclear how many shots were exchanged in total. In the confusion, the female officer was hit. Her colleagues rushed her to the University of Chicago hospital in their squad car. She didn’t make it.
“She Died Doing What She Loved,” Superintendent Says
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, visibly shaken, spoke late into the night. He confirmed the officer’s death and said she was someone who “believed in making this city safer.” Her mother, he added, said the job meant everything to her.
“She lost her life doing what she believed in,” Snelling said. “She was a mother. A protector. One of us.”
Her name has not been released yet, though department officials say she served with quiet diligence in the 6th District since joining the force.
Investigation Underway, Firearms Recovered
Police have detained multiple people believed to be connected to the incident. At least three weapons were retrieved at the scene, according to investigators. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) has been notified and is conducting an independent review, as is protocol in officer-involved shootings.
Another officer sustained an injury to the wrist — not life-threatening — and was taken to the hospital. He is expected to recover.
Silent Salutes and Heavy Hearts
In the early hours of Friday, a solemn police convoy moved from the University of Chicago hospital to the Medical Examiner’s Office. Officers stood in silent formation, their heads bowed. Others embraced each other on the sidewalk, stunned by the sudden loss.
Snelling said support would be extended to the officer’s family and to the unit she worked with daily. “They’re hurting,” he said. “We all are. But we keep moving. We keep working.”
A Stark Reminder of the Risks
Gun violence on the South Side is nothing new — but the loss of a uniformed officer in such a sudden, brutal way has sent shockwaves through the department and city leadership. As the investigation deepens, attention is now turning to accountability — and how a nighttime patrol turned into a tragedy.
Credit: ABC News
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