A Chicago police officer who was fatally shot by a man receiving treatment at a hospital while in police custody has been identified as 38-year-old John Bartholomew, authorities confirmed.
Officer's Background and Incident Details
Bartholomew, a 10-year veteran of the force, was pronounced dead just before 1 p.m. Saturday after being shot at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. A second officer was wounded in the Saturday morning shooting and remained in critical condition Sunday, police said. The name of the wounded officer and the suspect have not yet been released.
Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling told reporters Saturday that the wounded officer, 57 years old with 21 years of service, was “fighting for his life.”
Sequence of Events
The officers had transported the suspect, who had been arrested for suspicion of robbery, to the hospital for observation. The suspect fled from the hospital after the shooting and was later taken into custody, where a weapon was recovered, the police department said. Police have not said how he was able to obtain a gun.
A surveillance photo obtained by the Sun-Times appeared to show the suspect running naked, with electrodes on his chest.
Hospital Statement
The hospital said in a Facebook posting Saturday that an individual in custody of law enforcement was brought to the emergency department for treatment and was “wanded upon arrival,” following protocol. He was escorted by law enforcement at all times, the hospital said. It stated that the man later fired shots at the law enforcement officers and exited the hospital building.
Snelling said police investigating the shooting had recovered three weapons. The wounded officer is 57 years old with 21 years of service.
