Chicago City Wire

Chicago Police said that three men were arrested following a shootout with officers on Jan. 26 when police tried to stop a stolen vehicle on E. Lower Wacker Drive. 

According to NBC 5 Chicago, officers attempted to stop a vehicle that had been carjacked when the occupants exchanged gunfire with police. One of the occupants was shot, and taken to a nearby hospital. Chicago Fire officials at the time said the suspect was in "serious-to-critical condition." Officers recovered two weapons at the scene and took the other two suspects into custody.

"Police involved shooting on the 300 block of E. Wacker Dr. at Columbus. No Officers injured. 3 suspects in custody including one who sustained a gunshot wound and transported to a local hospital. Condition unknown. 2 guns recovered on scene. Investigation continues," Chicago Police tweeted the night of Jan. 26. 

A press release the next day released the names of the men involved in the shootout. Edgardo Perez, 24, Jesse Sanchez, 21, and Noel Centeno, 20, all of Chicago, are charged with felonies in connection to the ordeal. Police have identified Perez as the suspect who was struck, he's also facing the most serious charge of the three suspects, attempted murder of a police officer. Sanchez was charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possession, and misdemeanor criminal trespass. While the third suspect Centeno was charged with possessing a stolen vehicle. 

CNN reported last year Chicago had its most carjackings in more than two decades with over 1,800 incidents reported. Information from the University of Chicago's Crime Lab revealed someone was arrested in only 11% of carjackings in the 2020.

In the first 13 days of the year, Chicago Police had arrested more than 56 people on carjacking-related charges and had taken 284 guns off the streets, according to a report by FOX News.