Officers in Chicago are in grief after one of their comrades was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday.
Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso, 32, was shot and killed while chasing a young armed suspect who turned and fired “at close range” in Gage Park.
The incident started at 4:45 p.m. when two police cars responded to a domestic-related call in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue. Police Superintendent David O. Brown informed reporters that a caller had reported seeing a person pursuing a woman while armed.
One of the responding cops knocked on the door of the location where the report came in. When a second officer confronted the subject, a chase started, and shots were fired.
Vasquez-Lasso, who was pursuing the suspect, engaged him in close combat firing. The suspect was shot in the head and sent to a nearby hospital in severe condition. He was reportedly 18 years old with one past criminal offense.
After being struck several times, Vasquez-Lasso was brought to Mount Sinai Hospital.
“Vasquez-Lasso had been a member of the force for five years, and according to Brown, he had a highly promising future. The officer hails from a family of public employees, Brown added.
Vasquez-Lasso’s procession was held on Wednesday night. Several police cars were parked in front of Mount Sinai Hospital, where Vasquez-Lasso died from his injuries, and hundreds of officers could be seen lining up in the streets, according to news footage from the ground and SkyFOX.
