CPD: Officer shot at start of Saturday’s manhunt still in recovery as charges against suspect are pending

Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson speaks to the media Saturday after a police officer is critically wounded. Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who went to Christ Hospital and Medical Center in Oak Lawn to meet with the officer’s family, looks on. | Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times

A Chicago Police officer who was shot Saturday morning in West Englewood, prompting a daylong manhunt for the suspected shooter, was still recovering in the hospital Sunday evening.

The 40-year-old officer, who’s a 16-year Chicago Police veteran in the fugitive apprehension team, was shot about 8:40 a.m. Saturday near 65th Street and Winchester Avenue while searching for a man suspected of shooting a 29-year-old woman Wednesday in the Fulton River District. He was taken in critical condition to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was treated for gunshot wounds to the groin and left leg, Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson told reporters at the hospital Saturday morning.

Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Sunday that the officer’s condition is now stabilized.

Michael Blackman

The alleged shooter, who police said was 45-year-old Michael Blackman, ran away from the scene, sparking a several-hour manhunt throughout the South Side neighborhood.

Blackman has an extensive arrest history going back to 1991. His charges include burglary, battery, domestic battery, criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct, driving on a suspended license and criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to Johnson.

Police used video footage from the area to track Blackman to a vacant lot in the 6400 block of South Hoyne Avenue, where officers found the suspect about 3:35 p.m., prompting another shootout with police, according to Brendan Deenihan, deputy chief of the Chicago police’s Bureau of Detectives. Police chased Blackman across some adjacent railroad tracks to the 6400 block of South Bell Avenue, where he was struck by the officers’ gunfire.

“Other officers were waiting for him. The gun battle continued to ensue,” Deenihan said. “The defendant was struck.”

Blackman was also taken to Christ Medical Center in critical condition, where he was treated for eight gunshot wounds and a broken femur, Deenihan said.

Guglielmi said Sunday night that Blackman’s condition had also stabilized.

“We’ve begun presenting our case to the state’s attorney as of [Saturday] night and those conversations are ongoing,” Guglielmi said. “Charges are likely in the coming days.”

Police investigate Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 in the block of 6500 S Winchester Avenue after a police officer was shot by a suspect in the shooting of a 29-year-old woman earlier in the week.

Contributed by Tom Schuba.