CHICAGO — A police officer was shot Friday while chasing an armed robbery suspect through Back of the Yards, but her injuries are not considered life-threatening, police said.
Police received a call of an armed robbery in a cell phone store in the 4300 block of South Ashland Avenue, Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said. Police responding to the scene found two men running away, and one of the men fired at the officers as they got out of their squad. A female officer was hit in her leg, Johnson said.
Police returned fire and continued chasing the suspects, and apprehended one in an alley nearby, Johnson said.
The officer is in good condition at Stroger Hospital and will be held overnight, Johnson said.
"She's in good spirits," he said.
A suspect and a "person of interest" connected to the shooting are in police custody. Johnson said other suspects may be identified. A carjacking that occurred near the scene might have been related to the armed robbery and shooting, he said.
The officer was taken to Mercy Hospital before being transferred to Stroger Hospital.
Six officers have been shot since April, said Kevin Graham, president of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) said everyone in the city should make "fighting violence their priority" for the sake of police officers and the general public. He called out Cook County officials and judges for what he said was a role in keeping dangerous individuals on the street.
A county pop tax, which would raise of millions of dollars, has been held up in court. Last week, 200 county officials were laid off, including 17 prosecutors in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.
"Our officers are doing the best they can," Lopez said. "The fact that we're even discussing terminating 100 state's attorneys is unacceptable."
