A Chicago police officer and a teen are recovering, and the bank robber suspect is dead after a police chase led to a shooting in Old Irving Park (Mugo Odigwe/Eric Cox/Marissa Parra/CBS Chicago).
Des Plaines police responded to a bank robbery — possibly about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday November 19, 2019 — at the Bank of America, 1300 East Oakton Street in Des Plaines. Police were able to apprehend one of two bank robbers who fled on foot. The second suspect stole a white Buick LaCrosse — by carjacking a couple in the car — and eventually drove toward Chicago on eastbound I-90. At about 6:55 p.m. Des Plaines police reported they were in pursuit of the bank robbery suspect in the white Buick LaCrosse when the suspect exited I-90 at Cumberland and headed northbound. Police lost sight of the vehicle, but it was sighted again on eastbound I-90 and was reported passing Cicero Avenue about 6:59 p.m. Next Des Plaines police reported the suspect and vehicle were exiting at Irving Park Road at 7:00 p.m. and southbound on Keeler Avenue at 7:01 p.m. and then westbound Irving Park Road at Tripp Avenue also at 7:01 p.m. The pursuit turned southbound Kostner Avenue from Irving Park Road, also at 7:01 p.m. Next the pursuit was reported eastbound Irving Park Road from Kostner Avenue at 7:02 p.m. The stolen vehicle was involved in a crash at Irving Park Road and Lowell Avenue, also at 7:02 p.m.
Upon seeing police closing in, the 32-year-old bank robber shot at squad cars and a Chicago officer was shot in the head. The suspect then ran on foot eastbound on Irving Park Road. Next, the suspect entered the front door of a storefront music school “UpBeat Music and Arts” at 4318 West Irving Park Road between Lowell Avenue and Kildare Avenue. When the suspect entered the front door of “UpBeat Music and Arts” he was shot and killed by the Des Plaines police officer. During the exchange of gunfire, an innocent 15 year-old bystander in a class session in the music school was also shot.
The 15-year-old was struck by gunfire in the arm and abdomen during the shootout. The teen was transported to Comer Children’s Hospital, where he was treated and was considered “stabilized.” Initially it was unknown whether the teen was hit by the suspect’s bullets or by the police officer’s bullets.
The teen was in the music store for a piano lesson. According to the UpBeat Music and Arts school, class was in session at the time, and all other students and staff were kept safe, “thanks to the quick and courageous efforts of teachers.”
A crime scene perimeter was setup along Irving Park Road from Lowell Avenue to Kildare Avenue, just south and west of Interstate 90 (Kennedy Expressway).
Before the pursuit, FBI agents, Chicago police, Des Plaines officers and Illinois State Police had been able to track the bank robber’s movements. Chicago police were waiting for the suspect after he exited eastbound I-90 at Irving Park Road, according to Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson.
The 46-year-old Chicago police officer that was shot was transported to Level I Trauma Center Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center by his partner. The police officer that was shot is a 17-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. Johnson said the wounded police officer had already won several awards for his service. Police spokesperson (PIO) Anthony Guglielmi said medical imaging revealed the bullet penetrated and exited the police officer’s skull.
At a press conference at Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Dr. Marius Katilius explained that the Chicago police officer had a skull fracture with blood in the brain. Dr. Katilius said he was listed in “serious but stable condition.”
Both Guglielmi and Katilius said the officer was responsive and talking at the hospital. Mayor Lori Lightfoot spoke at the press conference following Supt. Eddie Johnson’s comments, and asked Chicagoans to pray for the officer and the teenage boy.
UpBeat classes for Wednesday, November 20, 2019 were cancelled and an announcement will be made to notify students when classes will resume.
Teen caught in crossfire last night was a student intern who was in class at the time of the incident (Marissa Parra/CBS Chicago).
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