A man is facing five attempted murder charges after allegedly shooting at Chicago police officers, striking one, and barricading himself in a building Saturday in Austin on the West Side.
Tracey Thomas Jr., 29, was charged with five counts of attempted murder in connection to the initial shooting and the ensuing standoff, Chicago police said. Thomas also faces charges for two bond forfeitures in Cook and DuPage counties.
The officers were investigating reports of shots fired about 11:30 a.m. near Lake Street and Cicero Avenue when Thomas allegedly opened fire on them, Chicago police said.
When more units arrived to search for the shooter, Thomas allegedly fired again from an elevated first-floor window of a building in the 200 block of North La Crosse Avenue, police said.
A female officer was struck in the hand and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, police said. Her wound was not life-threatening and she was released later that day.
Officers returned fire but did not strike Thomas, who holed himself up in the apartment building, police said. A SWAT team was called to the scene and Thomas turned himself in without incident about 2:20 p.m.
The officer is the third from the police department to be shot in a week.
On Monday, an off-duty officer was ambushed by two gunmen at a red light in Calumet Heights on the South Side. And last Sunday, an on-duty Chicago police sergeant was shot while standing in the parking lot of the Gresham District police station, 7808 S. Halsted St.
Thomas is expected to appear in bond court Sunday.
