Ex-Chicago police sergeant critically hurt in North Center shooting; Suspect in custody, another at large

A suspect is in custody and another is at large after a retired Chicago police sergeant was shot and critically wounded Monday morning in North Center, according to the local alderperson and police radio transmissions.

The former sergeant, 74, was shot twice in the left arm and grazed in the neck about 9 a.m. in the 2000 block of West Berteau Avenue, according to a preliminary police statement. He had exited his vehicle when two people started shooting in his direction.

He was rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition,” police said.

The shooting unfolded as mourners began to gather at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel for the funeral of Officer Enrique Martinez, who was killed earlier this month in an on-duty shooting.

Police radio traffic shows the victim is a retired department member whose Jeep Grand Cherokee was outfitted with Chicago Police Memorial Foundation license plates. Ald. Matt Martin (47th) said he was told the victim is an ex-sergeant.

Martin said a suspect was quickly apprehended, and SWAT officers are “continuing to search for the second individual.” But the circumstances of the shooting remained unclear as police continued to investigate, he said.

“It’s absolutely horrific whether it’s 9 a.m. [or] 9 p.m., whether it’s North Center or anywhere else in the city,” Martin told the Sun-Times. “It’s absolutely unacceptable. And to know that it’s a time of day when so many people are walking around, not too far removed from school drop-off, daycare drop-off.

Police radio dispatches show the former sergeant was found suffering from his wounds near his SUV, and a responding officer applied a tourniquet before he was taken to the hospital. About 15 minutes after the shooting, an officer reported over the radio that “a possible offender” had been taken into custody in the 4100 block of North Lincoln Avenue, which is nearby the shooting scene.

Ald. Martin said he was “hoping to get more answers in the coming hours about the motive.”

“Most importantly,” he added, “hoping for something positive about the victim’s condition.”

As of 2:15 p.m. the location of the shooting and SWAT situation remained "an active scene," said Chicago police Town Hall District Sgt. John Zinchuk.

Check back for details on this developing story.