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2 Chicago Police Officers Killed by a Train as They Chased a Suspect 2 Chicago Police Officers Killed by a Train as They Chased a Suspect
(about 5 hours later)
CHICAGO — A procession of police cars snaked through this city’s streets before dawn on Tuesday, guiding to the morgue the bodies of two Chicago police officers who were struck and killed by a train while chasing someone believed to have fired a gun.CHICAGO — A procession of police cars snaked through this city’s streets before dawn on Tuesday, guiding to the morgue the bodies of two Chicago police officers who were struck and killed by a train while chasing someone believed to have fired a gun.
The deaths Monday night of the two officers, Conrad Gary and Eduardo Marmolejo, were the latest in a series of losses for the Chicago Police Department in 2018 — a year Eddie Johnson, the police superintendent, described as “immensely difficult” during an emotional news conference.The deaths Monday night of the two officers, Conrad Gary and Eduardo Marmolejo, were the latest in a series of losses for the Chicago Police Department in 2018 — a year Eddie Johnson, the police superintendent, described as “immensely difficult” during an emotional news conference.
Last month, Officer Samuel Jimenez, who had joined the department last year and had recently finished his probationary period, was shot and killed after a man opened fire in a hospital. And in February, a Chicago police commander, Paul R. Bauer, was shot and killed during a confrontation with a man on a busy downtown workday, not far from City Hall.Last month, Officer Samuel Jimenez, who had joined the department last year and had recently finished his probationary period, was shot and killed after a man opened fire in a hospital. And in February, a Chicago police commander, Paul R. Bauer, was shot and killed during a confrontation with a man on a busy downtown workday, not far from City Hall.
Officers Gary and Marmolejo were killed instantly on Monday evening, the authorities said, after they were hit by a passenger train on the city’s far South Side. The officers, who were working as partners, were answering a report of gunshots after the city’s ShotSpotter technology detected the gunfire.Officers Gary and Marmolejo were killed instantly on Monday evening, the authorities said, after they were hit by a passenger train on the city’s far South Side. The officers, who were working as partners, were answering a report of gunshots after the city’s ShotSpotter technology detected the gunfire.
When they arrived near where the sounds had been detected, they saw someone with a gun and gave chase. As they ran near tracks, a train passed through at speeds of 60 or 70 miles per hour, according to Superintendent Johnson.When they arrived near where the sounds had been detected, they saw someone with a gun and gave chase. As they ran near tracks, a train passed through at speeds of 60 or 70 miles per hour, according to Superintendent Johnson.
A weapon was found and a person of interest was being questioned in the case, Anthony Guglielmi, a police spokesman, said on Twitter.A weapon was found and a person of interest was being questioned in the case, Anthony Guglielmi, a police spokesman, said on Twitter.
Video footage from one of the officer’s body cameras suggested that the officers had been unaware that the train that struck them from behind was approaching, Mr. Guglielmi said. They were aware, he said, of a second train that was approaching from the opposite direction on a nearby track; the sounds of that train may have obscured the sounds of the one coming up behind them.
Officers Gary and Marmolejo, both in their 30s, were relatively new to the police force and both, officials said, had young children. Officer Gary had been on the job for 18 months, and Officer Marmolejo for two and a half years.Officers Gary and Marmolejo, both in their 30s, were relatively new to the police force and both, officials said, had young children. Officer Gary had been on the job for 18 months, and Officer Marmolejo for two and a half years.
Rahm Emanuel, Chicago’s mayor, said residents needed to recognize the difficulty of the moment for police officers. “As we go about our time with our families, let us remind ourselves that there are others who cannot,” Mr. Emanuel said. “I think it’s really important that we put our arms around the Chicago Police Department and hold them up and support them at this critical juncture.”Rahm Emanuel, Chicago’s mayor, said residents needed to recognize the difficulty of the moment for police officers. “As we go about our time with our families, let us remind ourselves that there are others who cannot,” Mr. Emanuel said. “I think it’s really important that we put our arms around the Chicago Police Department and hold them up and support them at this critical juncture.”
The department has long wrestled with other problems, including street violence and distrust from the city’s residents, particularly over officers’ conduct toward black residents.The department has long wrestled with other problems, including street violence and distrust from the city’s residents, particularly over officers’ conduct toward black residents.
This year, reports of violent crimes have decreased, but bloodshed from gun violence remains an entrenched problem in the city. As of the start of December, homicides and shootings in Chicago were significantly down in 2018 from the same time last year. Still, over a single summer weekend, 66 people were shot, and 12 of them died.This year, reports of violent crimes have decreased, but bloodshed from gun violence remains an entrenched problem in the city. As of the start of December, homicides and shootings in Chicago were significantly down in 2018 from the same time last year. Still, over a single summer weekend, 66 people were shot, and 12 of them died.
And this fall, Jason Van Dyke, a white Chicago police officer, was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting of Laquan McDonald, a black teenager whose death was captured on a video that horrified many Chicagoans. Three other Chicago police officers are now waiting for a judge to decide whether they will be convicted of conspiracy, official misconduct and obstruction of justice for the stories they told, backing up Officer Van Dyke, after the shooting.And this fall, Jason Van Dyke, a white Chicago police officer, was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting of Laquan McDonald, a black teenager whose death was captured on a video that horrified many Chicagoans. Three other Chicago police officers are now waiting for a judge to decide whether they will be convicted of conspiracy, official misconduct and obstruction of justice for the stories they told, backing up Officer Van Dyke, after the shooting.