US shootings: Chicago police officer killed, another seriously wounded in West Englewood; 4 men wounded in separate incident

CHICAGO (US), Aug 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Chicago police officer was killed and another was seriously wounded in a shooting Saturday night on the South Side, officials said.

The officers were shot during a traffic stop shortly after 9 p.m. at 63rd Street and Bell Avenue and returned fire, hitting at least one suspect, police said.

Both officers were taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where one of them — a woman — was pronounced dead, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The other officer was “fighting for his very life” in critical condition, according to First Deputy Eric Carter who talked to reporters outside the hospital early Sunday.

“We ask the city of Chicago to pray for both officers, their families and their fellow officers who are struggling with the facts of this,” Carter said. “It’s just another example of how the Chicago Police Department and these officers put their lives above that of others to protect this city day in, day out.”

With him was Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who said “obviously our hearts ache for the loss of life.”

Lightfoot said the officer who died was “very young on the job, but incredibly enthusiastic to do the work. We must remind ourselves every day that our officers are fearless in the face of danger. It’s a very sad and tragic day for our city.”

Two suspects were taken into custody shortly after the shooting, according to police communications from the scene. The one who was wounded was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. His condition was not known.

A third suspect, a woman, was being sought by police late Saturday. At least least one weapon was recovered at the scene, Carter said.

In a separate incident, four men were wounded in a shooting Saturday night on the Near West Side that left three of them in critical condition, police said.

The group was standing near a park shortly after 7 p.m. in the 200 block of South Maplewood Street when someone fired shots from a vehicle, according to Chicago police.

Three of the men, ages 23, 27 and 28, were struck multiple times and taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, police said.

A 20-year-old man was struck in the ankle and taken to the same hospital in good condition, police said. — NNN-AGENCIES