Holly MatkinChicago, IL – The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) released bodycam footage on Tuesday that captured the moment when a suspect opened fire on a Chicago police officer during a traffic stop earlier this month (video below).
The attack occurred at approximately 2 p.m. on June 5, when three uniformed Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers in an unmarked patrol vehicle attempted to stop a driver in the 6900-block of South Sangamon Street, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Bodycam and previously released surveillance footage showed the driver, later identified as 27-year-old Jerome Halsey, as he jumped out of the vehicle and opened fire on the officers who pulled in behind him, WLS reported.
The officers immediately returned fire, hitting Halsey, who fell to the ground.
CPD Officer Erik Moreno was shot in his arm and torso during the attack, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
He was approximately a foot away from the suspect when he was shot.
Bodycam footage showed the wounded hero kneeling on the ground while his fellow officer quickly applied a tourniquet to his bloodied left arm.
“I got you. I got you,” the other officer reassured him.
Officer Moreno was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he remained for a week before being released to continue his recovery at home, according to WLS.
Hundreds of fellow officers and supporters lined the sidewalk to salute and applaud the wounded officer as he was being released from the hospital on June 12, the department said in a tweet.
Hundreds of officers line the sidewalk as Officer Erik Moreno is discharged from the hospital after being shot last week in the @ChicagoCAPS07 District. We are wishing him a speedy recovery at home. #CPDMediaCar. pic.twitter.com/aU6qc398et
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) June 12, 2022
Halsey was transported to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
He has since been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery, WGN reported.
Halsey’s bail was set at $1 million on June 7.
The attack marked the third shooting of a Chicago-area law enforcement officer in less than one week.
CPD Officer Fernanda Ballesteros was shot in the shoulder on June 1 when a suspect pulled up alongside her patrol vehicle and opened fire, WLS reported at the time.
Bullet fragments also hit her in her head, according to WMAQ.
Officer Ballesteros’ partner got behind the wheel of their vehicle and rushed the wounded 27-year-old officer to University of Chicago Hospital.
She was released on June 6 to the cheers of dozens of fellow law enforcement officers and supporters, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The third attack occurred on June 2, when 19-year-old Tarrion Johnson allegedly shot a U.S. Marshal and his K9 as they were attempting to arrest Johnson on a warrant for a prior attempted murder charge, according to FOX News.
The shooting occurred at approximately 1:20 p.m. in the 5200-block of West Belmont.
Additional members of the U.S. Marshal’s Service Fugitive Apprehension Team arrested Johnson, who was booked into jail on charges of injury to a police animal, aggravated cruelty to animals, attempted robbery with a firearm, and attempted murder, FOX News reported.
The wounded K9 was rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital’s intensive care unit in unknown condition.
The U.S. marshal suffered a gunshot wound to the hand, but refused treatment, according to FOX News.
Superintendent Brown said offenders have been increasingly “brazen in harming officers,” WLS reported.
“We’ve been repeatedly saying for the last 2.5 years now, offenders have shot at and shot officers at a 500% increase,” the police superintendent told reporters. “The highest number of officers shot at or shot on record in Chicago. His team members are all shook, as well. It’s…the third time this week in Chicago an officer has been shot.”
At least 22 CPD officers have been shot at so far in 2022, WLS reported.
Five officers have been wounded by gunfire.
“We ask for the city to pray and support their officers,” Superintendent Brown said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “Now is a good time to say thank you when you see an officer because we need encouragement right now doing this very, very difficult and dangerous job.”
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. Warning – Graphic Content:
