Chicago police shooting: CPD officer Enrique Martinez among two killed in East Chatham near E. 80th St., South Ingleside Avenue

CHICAGO (WLS) — Tuesday was and remains a very emotional day, not only for everyone who works at District 6 and knew Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez, but for the community as a whole.

Dozens of people gathered in the neighborhood Tuesday afternoon to express their grief and support.

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Dozens of people streamed into Chicago’s District 6 police station just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, including St. Sabina’s Father Michael Pfleger.

Although ABC7’s cameras were not allowed to remain during the prayer vigil that followed, it was clearly an emotional moment for the officers present, who on Tuesday mourned one of their own, 26-year-old Martinez.

“We’re all in this together. We’re family. And that’s what I told them in there. You’re not strangers. You’re our brothers, our sister, our friends. And that’s how we have to start seeing each other,” Pfleger said.

Martinez, a nearly three-year veteran of the department, was killed Monday evening just after 8 p.m. as he and others conducted a traffic stop in East Chatham.

According to police, there were three people in the car. One of them, police said, opened fire on Martinez, killing him and the occupant in the front seat. The identity of that person has not been released.

“He was a proud person who worked very hard. And he gave his life for this city,” said CPD Supt. Larry Snelling said of Martinez.

Snelling said both the backseat passenger and the person allegedly responsible for the shooting are in custody.

“What we are asking for and expecting and expecting is a swift call for justice to ensure that those responsible for this tragedy are held accountable. And individuals who continue to seek terror in our city, we will hold you accountable,” the mayor said. Brandon Johnson said this at a press conference on Monday evening.

But the gunman initially tried to get away, hitting a second police officer with his vehicle.

“We will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We’re going to do the best possible investigation we can, gather all the evidence to make sure we lock these types of people up so they never see the light of It’s Another Day,” Snelling said.

And while the details are still under investigation, Snelling confirmed that one of those in the vehicle had an ankle monitor that had been cut off.

“We must do everything we can to keep violent offenders off the streets, especially those who repeat these acts,” Snelling said. “If we don’t do that, we are failing our citizens. We are failing our children. We are failing their future. We must keep violent offenders off the streets.”

Johnson also expressed condolences as he joined Snelling and others outside the University of Chicago Medical Center on Monday evening.

“I call on all residents of this city to pray for this family. But I also call on the residents of this city to wrap their arms around each other, and especially around our police department,” Johnson said.

Police said they recovered two guns, including one with an extended magazine.

The exact circumstances surrounding the traffic stop have not been released.

Police said one of the officers on the scene managed to return fire, but it is not clear if anyone was hit as a result.

“At this time, we know there was one officer who fired his weapon at the scene. Those officers’ weapons are still under investigation,” Snelling said. “There is evidence that can be recovered. And that’s all the information we have about it right now.”

News of the suspect’s ankle monitor prompted John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, to call for more accountability in fighting crime.

“Does my face look surprised?” Catanzara said. ‘Unfortunately that is not the case. In this province, in this city, it’s just the status quo. Again, they can do whatever they want to do and you keep making excuses.”

The 6th District is one of the most violent neighborhoods in Chicago. In the past twelve months, 2,053 violent crimes (murder, assault, robbery, aggravated assault and aggravated assault) have been reported in the district.

It has the third highest violent crime rate of any district in the city, with 237 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, after District 7 and District 11. However, violent crime has increased by 5.4% over the past twelve months, compared to the average of the previous three months. three years.

However, some violent crimes, such as murders and shootings, occur in the district.

• There have been 63 murders in District 6 in the last 12 months: seven murders per 100,000 people, a decrease of 11.3% compared to the average of the previous three years
• 652 robberies in District 6 in the last 12 months: 75 robberies per 100,000 people, an increase of 10.8% compared to the average of the previous three years
• 247 shootings (both fatal and non-fatal) in the past 12 months: 28 shootings per 100,000 people, down 21.4% from the average of the previous three years

Traffic stops, like the one Martinez was conducting when he was killed, have become part of a disturbing trend in Chicago.

Retired CPD Sergeant Tracy Quarles served 25 years. He said his best friend and fellow officer was killed in a traffic stop years ago.

“I saw officer-involved shootings, officers being shot from my first day on the job to watching the news last night,” Quarles said Tuesday. “I let it play in my mind. In terms of seeing friends and colleagues at work and attending countless funerals over the years.”

Councilwoman Silvana Tabares, who represents the 23rd Ward, wants more to be done to protect citizens and officers.

Her husband is a CPD officer. She sees the department losing seasoned officers.

Martinez is the fourth officer to be killed in the line of duty in the past two years. Officer Luis Huesca was killed in April 2024, Officer Areanah Preston was murdered in May 2023 and Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso was murdered in March 2023.

“We’ve lost a lot of young officers in the last year and a half, a lot of young Latino officers. With Officer Vásquez Lasso and Officer Huesca and now, Officer Martinez, it’s very tragic. It’s very sad for our city, and it’s heartbreaking. Tabares said.

Martinez’s death brought back tragic memories for Gold Star families, such as the family of Officer Thomas Wortham, who was shot and killed in 2010.

His sister, Sandra Wortham, said she listened to police scanners Monday night.

“It’s obviously heartbreaking, another nightmare, absolutely unbelievable that we’re here again and one of our officers is taken away from us,” Wortham said. “We have to be realistic about what we’re dealing with here, our public safety challenge, and be real about solving it because our entire lives depend on it, and that it’s not an exaggeration.”

Early Tuesday, there was a somber procession for Martinez as a line of police vehicles escorted his body to the medical examiner’s office.

Martinez leaves behind a heartbroken family, including, ABC7 is told, a fiancée and a brother who is also a member of the police force.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) is investigating.

The officials concerned will perform routine administrative duties for a period of at least 30 days.

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office released a statement about the shooting “The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office is working with the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services and the Chicago Police Department with any assistance necessary in the investigation of the shooting of Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez. The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office has no further comment on this ongoing investigation by the Chicago Police Department.”

Johnson released a statement saying: “I am heartbroken that we lost a member of the Chicago Police Department yesterday. The entire city of Chicago joins me in mourning this profound loss.

“Every day, the brave men and women of the Chicago Police Department risk their lives to keep our city safe, and yesterday one of them made the ultimate sacrifice.

There will be justice for the officer’s family. There will be justice for our city. And there will be justice for the Chicago Police Department. The entire city and I stand with the officer’s family and loved ones, as well as the Chicago Police Department. as they endure this tragedy.

“I will remain in constant contact with the Chicago Police Department as the investigation develops, and we will provide updates as they become available.”

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