Suspect Dead After Chicago Police Shooting In Hammond Thursday
On Thursday, May 8, 2025, at approximately 5:49 p.m., 4th District Chicago Police Officers responded to a person with a gun call in the 13400 block of S. Baltimore Avenue for an individual wanted for an aggravated battery, according to Chicago Police.
Officers observed the individual enter a vehicle. The offender fled from the area and crashed his vehicle at Dearborn and Gostlin St. in Hammond. The suspect vehicle struck a stop light pole and decorative pole near a slight curve on Gostlin causing the vehicle to flip over. Officers arrived at the location where they were fired upon and returned fire striking the offender, police said. The offender sustained gunshot wounds and was
transported to St. Catherine Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Both officers were transported to a nearby hospital for observation in good condition. No other injuries were reported.
One firearm was recovered on scene. The Investigative Response Team from Chicago was at the scene assisting Hammond Police Department.
Currently, the specifics of this incident, including the comprehensive use of force investigation, are being investigated by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability with the full cooperation of the Chicago Police Department. The officer(s) involved will be placed on routine administrative duties for a minimum period of 30 days.
This matter remains under investigation.
If I’m understanding Illinois statue 50 ILCS 727, the Civilian Office Of Police Accountability (COPA) has no legal authority to investigate Police shootings. Members of COPA are all civilians and have never been sworn police officers and have zero training or experience as required under state law 50 ULCS 727. If COPA has no authority to investigate Chicago police officers involved in a shooting in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, why were they allowed on the scene to investigate a shooting In Hammond, Lake County, Indiana?