CHICAGO, IL - A police officer with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) was fatally shot in the East Chatham neighborhood on Monday, November 4th. The officer, identified as 26-year-old Enrique Martinez, was just shy of three years on the job.
According to CBS News, just after 8:00 p.m., officers from the Gresham (6th) District stopped a vehicle with three occupants in the 8000 block of South Ingleside Avenue. As officers approached the vehicle, one of the occupants opened fire on an officer with what sounded like rapid gunfire, as stated by police Supt. Larry Snelling.
That officer was identified as Martinez. He was driven to the University of Chicago Medical Center by fellow officers and died at the hospital. Snelling said that an occupant of the vehicle was also struck by gunfire and killed. Snelling said this occupant is believed to have been killed by the "gunfire that was released in the vehicle."
That individual who was killed had a handgun. Snelling said that a semi-automatic weapon was also recovered from the scene. The suspect who shot the officer tried to flee in the vehicle, but was unable to escape and instead fled on foot. Police said that the shooter ran into another officer with the car before bailing and running.
Another person in the backseat of the car was taken into custody by officers and after a foot pursuit that ended with a search for the shooter, he too was taken into custody in the 8000 block of South Maryland Avenue.
Snelling said that one officer did fire his weapon at the scene. The police Supt. said in a statement, "What I do want to say is that our officers go out and they face this type of danger every single day, and this work is unpredictable, and we never know what's in store for our officers when they're out there trying to keep the public safe."
Someone in the neighborhood captured video of the shooting. The video shows a police car on the left of the screen having pulled up alongside the suspects' car on the right. In the video, an officer is heard saying, "Stop reaching! Stop reaching! Stop reaching!" before shots seemingly from an automatic weapon ring out.
Snelling confirmed police had information that one of the suspects had cut off their ankle monitor, but that issue is still being investigated by detectives. Snelling said, "We will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We're going to do the best possible investigation that we can, collect all of the evidence to make sure that we put people like this away so that they never see the light of day again."
He added, "We have to do everything that we can to keep violent offenders off the street, especially those who are repeating these acts. If we don't do that, then we're failing our citizens. We're failing our children. We're failing their futures. We have to keep violent offenders off the street."
The news about the suspect's ankle monitor led the Fraternal Order of Police president John Catanzara to call for more accountability in crime-fighting efforts. He said, "Does my face look surprise? Sadly, it is not. In this country, in this city, it's just the status quo. Again, they are allowed to do whatever they want to do and you continue to make excuses."
Officer Martinez was engaged to be married. A vigil paying tribute to the fallen officer was held on Tuesday, November 5th, at the Gresham District police station. Members of the community as well as colleagues and friends gathered inside the police station. At a news conference at the medical center, Mayor Brandon Johnson said, "This young officer courageously protected this city. As the family continues to grieve, the shock, the anger that they are feeling, I'm calling on all residents of this city to pray for this family."
Catanzara said, "He was engaged to be married. It's tragic. He will never be able to see his wedding day." His brother is also an officer on the CPD force. Catanzara said, "He has certainly seen his fair share of tragedy and trauma, so it may have prepared him more than the rest of his family. He is stoic, but amazingly strong and he needs to be there for his mom and the rest of the family."
Snelling said, "He was a proud individual, very hard working. And he gave his life for this city." Johnson said, "I'm calling on all the residents of this city to pray for this family. But I'm also calling on the residents of this city to put our arms around one another and particularly our police department."
Police recovered two weapons, including one with an extended magazine. The exact circumstances surrounding the traffic stop have not yet been released. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) is investigating the incident. The officers involved will be placed on routine administrative leave for a minimum of 30 days.
Martinez is the fourth officer to die in the line of duty in the last two years. CPD released a statement, saying, "The Chicago Police Department is mourning the loss of a courageous hero who protected our city until the very end. We stand heartbroken alongside his family and loved ones. In grief, we will #NeverForget."
According to CBS News, just after 8:00 p.m., officers from the Gresham (6th) District stopped a vehicle with three occupants in the 8000 block of South Ingleside Avenue. As officers approached the vehicle, one of the occupants opened fire on an officer with what sounded like rapid gunfire, as stated by police Supt. Larry Snelling.
That officer was identified as Martinez. He was driven to the University of Chicago Medical Center by fellow officers and died at the hospital. Snelling said that an occupant of the vehicle was also struck by gunfire and killed. Snelling said this occupant is believed to have been killed by the "gunfire that was released in the vehicle."
That individual who was killed had a handgun. Snelling said that a semi-automatic weapon was also recovered from the scene. The suspect who shot the officer tried to flee in the vehicle, but was unable to escape and instead fled on foot. Police said that the shooter ran into another officer with the car before bailing and running.
Another person in the backseat of the car was taken into custody by officers and after a foot pursuit that ended with a search for the shooter, he too was taken into custody in the 8000 block of South Maryland Avenue.
Snelling said that one officer did fire his weapon at the scene. The police Supt. said in a statement, "What I do want to say is that our officers go out and they face this type of danger every single day, and this work is unpredictable, and we never know what's in store for our officers when they're out there trying to keep the public safe."
Someone in the neighborhood captured video of the shooting. The video shows a police car on the left of the screen having pulled up alongside the suspects' car on the right. In the video, an officer is heard saying, "Stop reaching! Stop reaching! Stop reaching!" before shots seemingly from an automatic weapon ring out.
Snelling confirmed police had information that one of the suspects had cut off their ankle monitor, but that issue is still being investigated by detectives. Snelling said, "We will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We're going to do the best possible investigation that we can, collect all of the evidence to make sure that we put people like this away so that they never see the light of day again."
He added, "We have to do everything that we can to keep violent offenders off the street, especially those who are repeating these acts. If we don't do that, then we're failing our citizens. We're failing our children. We're failing their futures. We have to keep violent offenders off the street."
The news about the suspect's ankle monitor led the Fraternal Order of Police president John Catanzara to call for more accountability in crime-fighting efforts. He said, "Does my face look surprise? Sadly, it is not. In this country, in this city, it's just the status quo. Again, they are allowed to do whatever they want to do and you continue to make excuses."
Officer Martinez was engaged to be married. A vigil paying tribute to the fallen officer was held on Tuesday, November 5th, at the Gresham District police station. Members of the community as well as colleagues and friends gathered inside the police station. At a news conference at the medical center, Mayor Brandon Johnson said, "This young officer courageously protected this city. As the family continues to grieve, the shock, the anger that they are feeling, I'm calling on all residents of this city to pray for this family."
Catanzara said, "He was engaged to be married. It's tragic. He will never be able to see his wedding day." His brother is also an officer on the CPD force. Catanzara said, "He has certainly seen his fair share of tragedy and trauma, so it may have prepared him more than the rest of his family. He is stoic, but amazingly strong and he needs to be there for his mom and the rest of the family."
Snelling said, "He was a proud individual, very hard working. And he gave his life for this city." Johnson said, "I'm calling on all the residents of this city to pray for this family. But I'm also calling on the residents of this city to put our arms around one another and particularly our police department."
Police recovered two weapons, including one with an extended magazine. The exact circumstances surrounding the traffic stop have not yet been released. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) is investigating the incident. The officers involved will be placed on routine administrative leave for a minimum of 30 days.
Martinez is the fourth officer to die in the line of duty in the last two years. CPD released a statement, saying, "The Chicago Police Department is mourning the loss of a courageous hero who protected our city until the very end. We stand heartbroken alongside his family and loved ones. In grief, we will #NeverForget."
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