Chicago officer shot and killed in West Englewood ID’d Second officer critically wounded

Chicago officer shot and killed in West Englewood ID’d Second officer critically wounded

CHICAGO — A Chicago law enforcement officer was killed in a shooting Saturday on the city’s Southwest Facet. A second officer was hurt and stays in the healthcare facility in significant problem.

A few people are in custody.

Law enforcement determined the slain officer as 29-calendar year-outdated Ella French. She experienced been on the pressure due to the fact 2018.

Police stated officers ended up conducting a traffic end in the 6300 block of South Bell Avenue in the West Englewood community just around 9 p.m.

Officers experienced stopped a auto with three occupants within, two males and a person girl. According to police, the occupants inside the automobile opened hearth in direction of the officers, main to an trade of gunfire.

The officers were struck by gunfire at the scene. Both equally had been taken to the healthcare facility in which 1 of the officers, French, died from her injuries.  

French was assigned to the police department’s community protection team doing the job with the gun job force. She is the to start with line of duty death for the division in nearly three many years. She is the fifth woman CPD officer to be killed though on-responsibility.

The identify of the 2nd officer critically hurt has not been launched. Chicago law enforcement said the officer stays in significant affliction at the University of Chicago, intubated by responsive.

On Sunday, Chicago Law enforcement Superintendent David Brown, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other law enforcement officers held a information meeting.

“I’m inquiring Chicago to wrap their arms all-around our law enforcement officers right now and inspire them to go on their good perform in safeguarding us all,” Brown stated.

Lightfoot declared Sunday a “day of mourning” in Chicago and flags would be at 50 % staff members.

“Tragedy has struck, once again. We mourn the decline of a younger officer, and as I did privately in the early early morning hrs, I want to publicly provide condolences to her mom, her brother, household and friends,” she explained. “Please hold this officer in your prayers. Also, retain the other officer who was shot in your prayers and his household and his friends and every working day for the relaxation of his life, uplift him and guidance him. They will require our enable as a metropolis. Two younger individuals, undertaking what we question, provider around self, dedication, and commitment.”

A single of the two males taken into custody was struck by gunfire and was initially transported to Christ Clinic in secure situation.

Brown, citing preliminary info, said it is considered a male passenger was the human being who fired pictures at law enforcement.

Brown claimed significantly of the incident was caught on system digital camera and the Civilian Place of work of Police Accountability will ascertain the release of the footage. The investigation is ongoing.

French’s brother, Andrew, stated he under no circumstances questioned his sister seeking to be a police officer, just like she hardly ever questioned him when he mentioned he was joining the Army.

“We required to do fantastic for the entire world. My mom adopted the two of us. She elevated us to be of assistance, to care, to have integrity,” French explained.

“My sister is a badass. She always needed to make a distinction wherever, however it was probable. I was in no way shocked when she stated she was heading to be a sheriff and then a cop. It just made feeling.”

French, who lives in Colorado, stated both equally he and his sister were elevated on the Southside, where their mother continue to resides.

Brown said so considerably this yr, 38 officers have been shot at, and 11 have been hit by gunfire.

The past Chicago officer shot to demise in the line of obligation was 28-year-aged Samuel Jimenez, who was killed immediately after responding to a taking pictures at Mercy Medical center on Nov. 19, 2018.

Browse far more Chicago news headlines below.

Two officers, Conrad Gary and Eduardo Marmolejo, died when they had been struck by a South Shore train while pursuing a suspect on Dec. 17, 2018. The department also considers the COVID-19 fatalities of four officers final yr line-of-duty fatalities.

The Connected Push contributed to this report.

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