By Rose Sobol, Tina Sfondeles and Kara Spak
Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — An on-duty Chicago Police officer was shot in the head and critically wounded in the South Side’s Englewood community early Monday.
The incident happened just after midnight in the 6000 block of South Hermitage Avenue as the officer, who wore plain clothes, was responding to a report of shots fired and a person with a gun, police Supt. Jody Weis said during a news briefing.
A vehicle with “more than one individual’’ inside drove by and fired several rounds at the officer, striking the officer once in the leg and once in the head, Weis said. The officer’s partner was with him, according to Weis.
The 27-year-old officer was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in critical condition, according to Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford.
Weis said the Englewood District tactical unit officer, who has more than three years on the force, remained in “very critical” condition as of 5 a.m. Monday.
Police were investigating a “number of investigative leads” that Weis said police were “very optimistic” about.
He would not comment on unconfirmed reports that the offending vehicle was found an hour after the shooting just a couple of blocks from the crime scene.
Weis, who came to the briefing straight from visiting the officer at Stroger Hospital said the hospital visit was “incredibly difficult.”
“The family is completely distraught and it’s very sad. It’s been a very tough week.”
Officer Densey Cole II was critically injured last Wednesday when he was involved in a two-vehicle crash as he was responding to a burglary in progress at the intersection of West 98th and South Halsted streets.
“These are very violent times and our officers are out there every day,” Weis said. “They risk their lives trying to make a difference.”
“It’s like everybody just got punched in the stomach,” Weis said of how police are feeling about the incident.
Weis did not release the name of the injured officer stating he wanted to make sure all of his family members had been notified.
“We have him in our prayers,” Weis said. “I didn’t personally know him but he’s got a very good reputation. Everybody said he’s a great worker.’'
A blue, brown or gray vehicle with light color “wheel flares” was reportedly seen fleeing the scene and heading northbound from 6000 block of Hermitage Avenue with four males inside, according to unconfirmed dispatch reports.
About 1:15 a.m. the vehicle police think may have been used in the shooting had been found in the 6100 block of South Paulina Street, with shell casings inside it, according to a law enforcement source, who said the vehicle is registered to someone who lives close to where the vehicle was found.
Wentworth Area detectives are investigating.
Copyright 2009 Chicago Sun-Times