The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Monday in the 8000 block of South Ingleside when officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with three occupants, according to Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling during a press conference on Tuesday morning. Snelling did not disclose the reason for the stop.
As officers approached the car, one of the occupants opened fire, striking the officer multiple times. “It sounded like rapid fire,” Snelling reported. One of the car’s passengers was also hit and later pronounced dead.
At least one officer returned fire, and the suspect attempted to flee the scene, hitting another officer in the process. That officer was taken to a nearby hospital in fair condition. The suspect then tried to escape on foot but was apprehended after a chase. A third occupant of the vehicle was also arrested.
When asked about reports that one of the vehicle’s occupants had cut off an ankle monitor, Snelling confirmed this information, noting that the investigation is ongoing and details are still being gathered.
“Our officers confront this kind of danger every day,” Snelling stated. “This job is unpredictable, and we never know what our officers will face while working to protect the public. Remember, if our officers are not safe, it will be difficult for everyone else to feel secure.”
The fallen officer, identified as 26-year-old Enrique Martinez, had nearly three years of service and worked in the 6th District, which encompasses the Gresham neighborhood and nearby areas. Snelling described him as a “proud individual” and a “hard worker.”
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