A police officer from the Chicago Police Department's 4th District and Forest Preserves of Cook County Police, responded to a situation involving an armed individual in South Chicago this past Friday. According to an official statement from the Chicago Police Department, the incident took place around 1:45 p.m. in the 11400 block of S. Avenue G, where the male offender, brandishing a knife, was chasing another person.
Upon arriving at the scene, the offender approached the responding CPD officer with the knife, rapidly advancing toward him. The officer attempted to create distance and de-escalate the situation; despite his efforts, the offender persisted in his approach, which led the officer to discharge his firearm, hitting the assailant in the body. The officers provided first aid and applied a tourniquet before the wounded suspect was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital in a critical condition; meanwhile, the officer involved was sent to a local hospital for observation.
The police recovered a knife from the scene following the shooting. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, alongside the CPD's Investigative Response Team, is now handling the investigation into the officer's use of force. The Chicago Police Department reiterated in their statement that they are cooperating fully with the inquiry.
The officer who fired the weapon will be reassigned to administrative duties for a minimum of 30 days, which is standard procedure in such incidents, during the ongoing investigation, inquiries about the case are being directed to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which can be reached at (312) 746-3609.
