Thursday, May 20, 2010

UPDATED: Chicago police officer killed in robbery attempt

An update to Worlee's post from around midnight last night:
Authorities say a Chicago police officer who recently returned from Iraq was shot and killed when several people approached him outside his family's home and tried to steal his new motorcycle.

Police say the officer's father — a retired Chicago police officer — came to his son's aid and shot two of the attackers, one fatally, in the attack late Wednesday.

Chicago Alderman Freddrenna Lyle knew the officer and says he had just finished his second tour in Iraq.

Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis (wees) says the 30-year-old officer had been on the force for three years. His name has not been released.

Police are looking for a third suspect who fled the scene. News Affairs Officer Amina Greer says charges are pending against the injured suspect.
I posted Facebook status messages on the police activity along the Dan Ryan last night at least there's one explanation for that. May this officer rest in peace.

UPDATE 9:45 PM Well Chgo Breaking News provides the identity of this officer
Chicago Police Officer Thomas Wortham served two tours of duty in Iraq, but his latest battle had been against rising violence in the Chatham neighborhood where he grew up.

It was a fight he would not survive.

Wortham was gunned down in front of his parents' home late Wednesday night as three men were trying to steal his motorcycle, police say.

Just last week, in an interview with the Tribune, he had decried a recent rash of shootings that forced the alderman of his ward to take down basketball hoops in Cole Park across the street from his parents' house.

"It's starting to feel like it's expected in this community," said Wortham, 30, who was president of the Cole Park advisory council and whose grandfather built the home across from the park 50 years ago.

"When people think of the South Side of Chicago, they think violence. In Chatham, that's not what we see. It's happened, and we're going to fix it, so it doesn't happen again."

Wortham was planning to literally take back the park.

No comments:

Post a Comment

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Comment Moderating and Anonymous Comment Policy

While anonymous comments are not prohibited we do encourage you to help readers identify you so that other commenters may respond to you. Either read the moderating policy for how or leave an identifier (which could be a nickname for example) at the end of the comment.

Also note that this blog is NOT associated with any public or political officials including Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer!