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A Chicago police officer and two female staffers were among those killed after a shooting incident at Mercy Hospital in Chicago Monday.
Anthony Guglielmi, Chief Communications Officer for the Chicago police, confirmed the news on Twitter that Officer Samuel Jimenez was fatally shot in the “senseless” tragedy.
“It’s with profound sadness that we share the death of PO Samuel Jimenez from tonight’s senseless active shooter incident,” Guglielmi wrote. “Please pray for his family, his fellow officers & the entire #ChicagoPolice Department. Supt Eddie Johnson & @ChicagosMayor will hv a press briefing shortly.”
During apress briefingshortly after the incident, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson expressed their sadness for the innocent lives lost “all doing what they love.”
“In a span of a few hours, the superintendent and I have seen the emotional highs and emotional lows of the Chicago police depart family. We started this morning at a promotion and a graduation… just hours later, a death in the line of duty, selfless in his actions,” Emanuel said.
“That’s a moment we all fear. The City of Chicago lost a doctor, a pharmaceutical assistant, and a police officer all going about their day, all doing what they love,” he continued. “This tears at the soul of our city. It is the face and the consequence of evil.”
Superintendent Johnson explained in the press briefing that a verbal altercation between familiar individuals in the hospital parking lot led to the deadly shooting, which he said also included the suspect.
Mercy Hospital in Chicago.ABC7
“There was a third subject out there who was a friend to one of the individuals. That friend attempted to intervene in the verbal dispute,” he said. “At that time, our offender, the male individual, lifted up his shirt and displayed a handgun… the acquaintance fled into the hospital.”
“911 received a call shortly thereafter of an assault taking place in the parking lot. A few seconds later, a call came in of shots fired in the parking lot,” Johnson continued. “Now, we know that the male individual shot and killed the female that he was in a domestic relationship with, who was an employee of the hospital.”
WGN News reporter Courtney Gousman reported thatOfficer Jimenezwas 28-years-old, married withfour children, and had recently joined the police force within the last year.
The other two victims, as well as the suspect, have not yet been identified.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
source: people.com
