Crime
Video shows moments Chicago police officer Enrique Martinez shot and killed in East Chatham
The suspected shooter attempted to flee on foot but was later apprehended.
A Chicago police officer and another individual were shot and killed on the city’s South Side on Monday evening, according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
The shooting occurred in the East Chatham neighborhood near East 80th Street and South Ingleside Avenue around 8 p.m.
CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling reported that officers initiated a stop on a vehicle occupied by three individuals.
As officers approached, gunfire erupted from inside the car, striking the 26-year-old Enrique Martinez multiple times. A second person inside the vehicle was also fatally shot.
Snelling confirmed that an officer discharged their weapon during the confrontation. Detectives are now analyzing the officers’ firearms as part of the ongoing investigation.
The suspected shooter attempted to flee on foot but was later apprehended.
A third person, seated in the rear of the vehicle, was taken into custody at the scene.
Fellow officers transported the injured officer to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The officer had served with CPD for nearly three years.
At the scene, police recovered two firearms: one was in possession of the person found deceased in the vehicle, and the second, a semi-automatic weapon with an extended magazine, was found nearby.
Several streets surrounding the scene were cordoned off as the investigation continued into the evening.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability responded to the incident, and the Mobile Command Post was also on-site.
A significant police presence was observed outside the University of Chicago Medical Center, located on East 57th Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue, as officers mourned their colleague’s passing.
Christian County, Mo. — Authorities have identified the suspect accused of fatally shooting a deputy with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office during a traffic stop as Richard Bird.
At the time the Blue Alert was issued, the suspect had not yet been taken into custody.
According to law enforcement officials, the deputy initiated a traffic stop involving a 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck along State Highway 160 near Highlandville.
During the stop, the suspect allegedly opened fire, fatally wounding the deputy before fleeing the scene.
The suspect was reported to have traveled southbound on Highway 160 following the shooting.
Authorities described the suspect vehicle as a black 2001 Chevrolet extended cab pickup truck equipped with a silver brush guard, black body trim, tinted rear windows, and a three-ball trailer hitch. The vehicle was bearing Missouri license plate 9MG-X36.
A statewide Blue Alert was issued to notify the public and assist in locating the suspect.
Law enforcement officials urged residents not to approach the vehicle or suspect if located, but instead to immediately call 911 and provide detailed information while remaining at a safe distance.
Christian County is situated south of Springfield and north of Branson, an area that sees significant travel due to its proximity to the Ozarks.
Multiple agencies across the region coordinated efforts in response to the alert.
Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting or the status of the investigation.
Law enforcement officials expressed their condolences to the deputy’s family, colleagues, and the community as they continue to pursue justice in the case.