2 Chicago police officers shot in South Shore after traffic stop; driver also shot and critically injured

Two Chicago police officers were shot on the city's South Side Friday evening during a struggle after a traffic stop. The driver was also shot and critically injured.

Reports of officers down near 79th and Chappel on the border of South Shore and South Chicago shortly after 5 p.m.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said the two officers stopped a vehicle in the 2000 block of E. 79th Street that he described as a "homemade vehicle." During the stop, Snelling said, the person the officers were investigating fled the scene.

The officers gave chase and quickly caught up to the person, at which time a struggle took place. During the struggle, the person pulled a gun out of a shoulder bag and fired one round, striking one of the officers. That officer returned fire, hitting the person.

While the shots were fired, the second officer was struck in the arm, Snelling said. The superintendent said it was not yet clear if the suspect shot the second officer or if the bullet came from their fellow officer.

The first officer's vest stopped that bullet, according to the superintendent.

The two officers were taken to University of Chicago Medical Center for treatment. The officer who was struck in the arm was taken into surgery, which was successful according to Snelling, and is expected to recover. The officer who was struck in the vest was not shot but was injured by the impact and remains hospitalized to be treated, Snelling said.

Snelling said the officers have been with the department for four years. One is 27 and the other is 30 years old. Both are expected to make a full recovery.

Other CPD officers who responded to the shooting rendered aid to both the police officers and the person from the vehicle until ambulances arrived. That person was taken to Northwestern Medical Center in critical condition, Snelling said.

"Our officers are working really hard out here to keep down violence, and they face this type of violence every day and put their lives on the line," Snelling said. "It's really important to know and understand that they're putting themselves in harm's way to keep everyone safe."

Snelling said he doesn't have more details about what led the traffic stop to escalate into a shooting because they have not yet been able to interview the officers as they've been receiving medical treatment.

Mayor Brandon Johnson and Snelling together emphasized that they have a plan in place to address violence over the holiday weekend, continuing joint efforts between the police department and anti-violence interrupters, community groups and peacekeepers.

"As we go into this holiday season it is especially important that we check in on one another, that we put our arms around one another and that we look out for one another," Johnson said. "As we work to create safe and affordable communities, that work requires not just the dedication of law enforcement, but from every single Chicagoan."

"The violence has to stop; we have to be better as people," said Snelling. "We have to stop trying to resolve our issues and conflicts with violence. We should not allow our skin, our gender, our language or our uniforms to be a barrier for communication. We're all people and I think everyone, at least everybody should want some sense of peace for their people, their children, for their family members to be safe in this city. So, we really have to think about that."

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability said it is investigating the incident.