School children were present in Gage Park when a Chicago police officer was shot and killed.
Wednesday, March 2, near Sawyer Elementary School, 32-year-old Officer Andrés Vásquez-Lasso was shot multiple times while pursuing an armed suspect.
One eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity for her own protection, described the terrifying experience. Among the children playing nearby, she said her sister, then 10 years old, saw the man being chased pull a gun on Officer Vásquez-Lasso. When they heard the gunfire, they scurried away as quickly as they could.
Two police cars were dispatched to a report of domestic violence at 4:45 p.m. Superintendent David O. Brown of the police force said that a man armed with a gun was pursuing a woman down the street.
When the police arrived, they split up. One cop went to knock on the door, while the other confronted the suspect. The pursuit ended in gunfire between the suspect and Officer Vásquez-Lasso.
While pursuing the suspect, Officer Vásquez-Lasso was wounded several times and the suspect was hit in the head. Tragically, the officer died at the hospital despite emergency efforts to save his life. He is survived by his wife and a young daughter.
The suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Chicago resident Steven Montano, was in critical condition and under police guard at a hospital where he was being held on multiple charges, including murder. According to the police, they recognized him from a previous arrest in July of 2022, after which he had been granted bail. After an argument with his 37-year-old girlfriend, Montano allegedly threatened to get his gun, causing her to 911.
Parents who had previously allowed their children to play near the school, as well as other first responders and their families, have been particularly affected by the officer’s tragic death. Many people have voiced worries about the kids in the area and have asked for more security.
On Saturday, a procession and vigil were held in memory of the officer, and the city of Chicago came together to express its sorrow at his loss.