‘Person of Interest’ Questioned In ATF, Cop Morgan Park Shooting

UPDATED: 11:45 p.m.

CHICAGO — Chicago police still aren’t releasing information about a “person of interest” being questioned after three law enforcement officers were shot early Wednesday morning while entering the ramp to I-57 in Morgan Park.

Two ATF agents and the Chicago police officer suffered non-life threatening gunshot wounds in the attack. They have since been treated and released from Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, CPD spokesman Tom Ahern said.

Chicago Police Supt. David Brown shared details of the shooting early Wednesday morning in Chicago's Morgan Park neighborhood. The shooting comes on the heels of a weekend of violence, with more than 100 people shot during the 4th of July holiday in Chicago, and on the day of President Biden’s first presidential visit to Illinois.

The shootings happened around 5:50 a.m. The officers were riding together in an unmarked police vehicle and entering the I-57 ramp from 119th Street when shots rang out.

The officer and two federal agents were reportedly working together on an undercover mission. Brown said the three were on their way to a "location” when they attempted to enter the I-57 ramp. The vehicle the officers were riding in reportedly ended up at the 22nd Police District in the 1900 block of Monterrey.

"[The officers] were on the ramp where they were fired upon from the street," Brown said during a news conference Wednesday morning outside Advocate Chris. Brown would not answer the news media's questions directly, saying he was limited in what he could say because he didn't want to compromise the investigation.

The suspect or suspects were riding in a white Chevy Malibu, according to police.

The Chicago police officer suffered a graze wound to the back of the head, according to officials. One of the ATF agents was shot in the hand and the other in the side by the arm. The CPD officer is male, the ATF agents male and female. The three have been described as veteran offices.

Ahern said Area 2 detectives were interviewing a person of interest just before 2 p.m. Police have not released any additional information about the person they’re talking to, where he or she was picked up, nor the time of the arrest.

After two federal agents and a Chicago police officer were shot early Wednesday, Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th Ward) told Patch he received a call from Chicago police letting him know there was a situation unfolding in his ward. O'Shea spent several hours at Advocate Christ Medical Center, where the three officers were brought to the ER.

"Clearly these officers were targeted. [The shooter or shooters] drove up on them and opened fire," O'Shea said.

The alderman, whose 19th Ward counts many Chicago police officers and firefighters as residents, and in whose ward the shootings happened, had harsh words for the escalating gun violence in the city.

“We have more than 100,000 active gang members in the city of Chicago. They are all emboldened and fearless of the criminal justice system. They know there are no repercussions. They’re out in days, if not hours,” O’Shea said. “A majority have access to guns, and they’re terrorizing communities all across the city.”

Special Agent Kristen DiTineo, of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said as investigators get more information, "we will be asking for your help."

Three helicopters hovered over the Morgan Park area where the officers were shot.