A violent encounter on Chicago’s West Side early Saturday morning left one person critically injured and involved a shootout between police and a gunman.
Chicago police responded to reports of gunfire and a man armed with a gun near the 5700 block of West North Avenue at approximately 12:45 a.m. Upon arrival, officers witnessed the gunman firing multiple shots at another individual who was already on the ground.
As officers approached, the gunman turned his weapon on them, striking their squad car. An officer returned fire before the suspect fled the scene. The gunman was later apprehended, and no officers were injured during the exchange.
Police recovered three firearms at the scene.
The victim, who had been shot multiple times, was provided emergency aid by officers before being transported to a nearby hospital. Their condition remains unknown.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the incident. Following standard protocol, the officers involved will be placed on administrative duties for at least 30 days.
Last weekend, Chicago experienced another violent weekend, with at least 16 people shot, including four fatalities, under Mayor Brandon Johnson’s leadership. Gun violence continues to plague the city, which has already seen 544 homicides in 2024, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The first fatality occurred Friday evening around 5:15 p.m. on the 3800 block of West Adams Street. A 28-year-old passenger in a vehicle was shot in the head after an unknown assailant opened fire. The victim succumbed to his injuries.
The next day, a 30-year-old man was fatally shot after a fight broke out around 3 p.m. in the 200 block of North Pulaski Road. The man sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at a hospital shortly after.
Later that evening, at 6:14 p.m., police discovered the body of a 34-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the head in the 400 block of West Montrose Harbor Drive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The fourth fatal shooting occurred just after 10 p.m. last Saturday. Police found a male victim in an alley on the 3100 block of West Cermak Road with a gunshot wound to his back. He was also pronounced dead at the scene.
