CPD Officer Enrique Martinez, 26, shot and killed in line of duty on city’s South Side

Another young Chicago police officer with just a few years on the force was gunned down in the streets in a brazen attack during a traffic stop Monday evening in the East Chatham neighborhood, police said.

Chicago police identified the fallen officer as 26-year-old Officer Enrique Martinez, calling him “a courageous hero who protected our city until the very end,” and adding, “We stand heartbroken alongside his family and loved ones. In grief, we will never forget.”

The shooting happened around 8 p.m. in the 8000 block of South Ingleside in the East Chatham neighborhood. CPD Supt. Larry Snelling said in a late evening news conference that the officer and his partner approached the vehicle occupied by three people.

“As the officers approached the vehicle, one of the occupants opened fire on the police officer that sounded like rapid fire,” Snelling said. “Our officer was struck multiple times and an occupant in the vehicle was also struck by gunfire.”

Martinez was rushed by his fellow officers in a patrol car to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

“The wounds were too great for this officer to recover,” Snelling said.

Snelling said the person inside the vehicle who was struck by gunfire died.

The shooter tried to flee in the vehicle but could not make good on their escape. The shooter got out of the vehicle and started running, but was apprehended moments later, the superintendent said.

The deceased person in the vehicle was found in possession of a gun. Another gun recovered at the scene was equipped with an extended magazine.

A third person sitting in the vehicle’s back seat was taken into custody.

During the gunfire exchange one of the officers fired their gun. Snelling said COPA was notified and the officers’ guns are being examined.

The superintendent did not know why officers stopped the vehicle, nor did he know if the alleged shooter had any prior run-ins with the law, saying that facts were still being gathered.

Snelling said Martinez was assigned to the 6th Chicago Police District. He had just shy of three years with the department.

“He was a proud individual, very hardworking,” the superintendent said. “He gave his life for this city.”

“Our officers go out and face this type of danger every single day,” Snelling said. “This work is unpredictable. We don’t know what’s in store for our officers when they’re out there trying to keep the public safe. If our officers aren’t safe it’s going to make it hard for everyone else to be safe.”