Chicago police officer killed, another critically injured in hospital shooting: ‘A devastating loss'

CHICAGO - One Chicago police officer was killed and another critically injured after they were shot at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital Saturday morning by a man they brought in for treatment at the emergency room, according to police and hospital officials. The suspect was taken into custody.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said in a department-wide message to police, obtained by the Tribune, that an officer assigned to the Albany Park (17th) District was shot and killed while transporting the suspect inside the Lincoln Square hospital. Another officer was also shot and remains in critical condition Saturday afternoon, he wrote.

Snelling called the shooting "a devastating loss for our department and our city" and called on the department to support the fallen officer's family.

"This officer gave his life to protect his fellow Chicagoans, and we will never let our city forget his sacrifice," he wrote.

The message did not name either officer.

Endeavor Health, which operates the hospital, said the suspected gunman was taken to the emergency department around 9 a.m. He fired shots at the officers about two hours later and escaped the building, at which point he was apprehended, officials said in a statement.

They also said the man was wanded when he arrived at the hospital per "public safety weapon detection protocols," and that he was escorted by law enforcement at all times. No staff or patients were physically harmed during the shooting, the statement said.

"The safety of our patients and team members remains our top priority," Endeavor Health said. "We are cooperating with law enforcement during their investigation and our deepest compassion remains with the officers and their families."

Chicago police said more details would be released at a news briefing. At least one of the wounded officers was believed to have been rushed to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

The Cook County medical examiner's office, in a statement to the Tribune Saturday afternoon, said it had been notified of a death at the address of Swedish Hospital. The office did not share any further details.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, Albany Park (17th) district police originally arrested the suspect for an alleged robbery at a Family Dollar store in the 3200 block of West Lawrence Avenue shortly after 8 a.m.

A still from surveillance video footage obtained by the Tribune showed the suspect running naked down a street, with white patches stuck to his chest.

About a 10-minute walk east of Swedish Hospital, which went into lockdown amid reports of an active shooter around 11 a.m., around half a block of houses on West Carmen Avenue were sectioned off with police tape Saturday afternoon.

Nicholas Brown, 29, who lives a couple of blocks away, watched the police search for the suspect. He said it seemed that police were searching for the suspect in yards, sometimes jumping over fences. He saw hundreds of officers in the area - some with assault rifles, police dogs and riot shields.

"I've lived here for a few years," Brown said. "I've never seen anything like it."

Jean Brown, who lives on West Carmen Avenue, said police apprehended the suspect from under the back deck of a house in the alley between her street and West Winona Street. Although she didn't see the suspect, she said her neighbors spent the morning texting updates in a group chat. Those who saw the search unfold told her that they saw police take a naked man to a police car.

"It's sad news from the hospital," the 60-year-old said.

Around noon, Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, told residents in a community alert to shelter in place and avoid the area, saying that around 11:30 a.m., an incident occurred with "multiple shots fired and two officers shot, one in critical condition."

Nearly an hour later, the alderman released another statement saying police confirmed a suspect had been placed in custody.

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(Tribune reporters Jeremy Gorner, Tess Kenny, Greg Royal Pratt and William Lee contributed to this report.)

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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 1:52 PM.