CHICAGO — A 23-year-old man is facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the shooting death of a Chicago police officer during a traffic stop in the South Side of the city.
The suspect is slated to appear in court on Thursday and is also charged with a second count of first-degree murder, attempted murder of an officer, residential burglary, and various weapons offenses, according to Police Chief Larry Snelling, who briefed the media on Wednesday.
Officer Enrique Martinez was fatally shot around 8 p.m. on Monday while he and his colleagues were conducting a traffic stop on a vehicle that was obstructing traffic. As Martinez and his partner engaged with the driver, a front-seat passenger was observed reaching for a bag on the ground, detailed Chief of Detectives Antoinette Ursitti.
When the officers instructed him to halt his movement, the suspect brandished a handgun outfitted with a machine gun conversion device and an extended magazine, firing at Martinez and injuring both the officer and the driver, according to Ursitti.
After the shooting, the suspect forcibly ejected the driver from the car and sped away, dragging another officer for a short distance before colliding with a parked vehicle. He then fled into an apartment, where he allegedly grabbed a knife and cut off his court-mandated electronic monitoring device. Authorities confirmed that a woman in the apartment was unharmed during the incident.
Shortly afterward, law enforcement apprehended him after he tried to escape the apartment. Tragically, Martinez was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, and the vehicle driver also succumbed to injuries.
Following the incident, police reported the recovery of the modified handgun as well as another firearm. Another occupant in the back seat of the vehicle was arrested but subsequently released after investigators determined he had no part in the shooting, stated Ursitti.
Authorities revealed that the alleged gunman was previously released from jail while awaiting trial for trying to deceive a drug and alcohol screening test. Snelling remarked on the incident, emphasizing that “this individual should not have been on our streets with a fully automatic weapon.” The Chief highlighted the dangers posed by handguns modified to operate as fully automatic firearms, stating that they leave officers at a disadvantage.
“Our officers were doing everything within their power to de-escalate the situation,” Snelling noted. He expressed concern about the implications of such weaponry, stating that it significantly heightens the potential for lethal encounters, not only for police but for the broader public.
Officer Martinez, only 26 years old, was approaching the three-year milestone with the Chicago Police Department. Snelling lamented the loss, stating, “Officer Martinez was killed by the violence he dedicated his career to stopping.” He called for a community response regarding the proliferation of firearms, which he said threaten both residents and first responders alike.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability has initiated an investigation into the shooting incident.