Two Cook County Sheriff's deputies had a close call early Wednesday when their squad car was sprayed with bullets outside Mount Sinai Hospital on Chicago's West Side. The deputies were sitting in their vehicle when someone in a passing car opened fire, hitting the squad but miraculously missing both officers. Police quickly blocked off the 1500-block of South California Avenue as detectives worked the scene and searched for the shooter. No arrests were reported overnight.
What Happened
The shooting unfolded at about 3:36 a.m. when a silver sedan pulled up alongside the deputies' vehicle, and someone in the passenger seat fired multiple rounds, according to ABC7 Chicago. The sedan then took off heading east, the outlet reported. Officers immediately began collecting evidence while detectives fanned out across nearby blocks looking for security video and potential witnesses.
Who Was Targeted
Chicago police and the Cook County Sheriff's Office said the two men targeted were deputies, ages 27 and 28, and confirmed that neither was injured. The Chicago Sun-Times reported the pair had just been at Mount Sinai and were leaving to head back to the Cook County Jail to clock out from their shift when the silver sedan pulled up and opened fire.
Scene And Evidence
Crews for CBS News Chicago said they saw bullet casings scattered on the sidewalk outside the hospital near California Avenue. Local outlets also reported that the deputies' vehicle was hit on the rear passenger-side door, but no one inside was struck, according to FOX 32 Chicago. For investigators, it is the kind of scene that turns into a painstaking, inch-by-inch search for clues.
Investigation Underway
No arrests have been announced, and detectives with the Chicago Police Department's Area Four unit are leading the investigation, police told ABC7 Chicago. The outlet also noted that the Cook County Sheriff's Office continued providing updates to local media as investigators processed the scene. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact detectives so they can follow up on new leads.
Context
Attacks on law enforcement and officer-involved shootings surface periodically across Chicago. Past coverage from CBS Chicago has highlighted similar cases where off-duty deputies or officers were wounded and investigations stretched on for days. On the West Side, detectives often lean heavily on surveillance footage, including hospital cameras, to track suspect vehicles and lock down corroborating evidence.
The investigation into the Mount Sinai shooting remains active, and police say more details will be released as they become available. Residents in the area and anyone who might have seen the silver sedan or heard gunfire around the time of the incident are being urged to contact Chicago police or Area Four detectives.
