Chicago City Wire

A Chicago police officer who succumbed to his injuries following a recent shootout with a gunman on the city's Southwest Side has been positively identified as Andres Vasquez Lasso, 32, of Marquette Park; a recent Chicago Tribune report said.

Several news reports stated that officers were responding to a domestic-related call involving a man with a gun in South Spaulding Avenue's 5200 block at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1. The suspect was reportedly chasing a woman down the street with a gun. One of two pairs of responding officers engaged with the suspect, who fled the scene. Police began pursuing the suspect, and shots were exchanged between the suspect and Lasso at close range.

The suspect, an 18-year-old male, was taken to Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to his upper body; Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown told the Tribune. No other responding officers used their weapons during the shootout.

“They all knew it was an offender with a gun,” Brown said of the responding officers. “They were there to protect this victim, and they were willing to put their lives on the line to protect this person.

“It happened so fast. Other officers heard shots and at that point in time began to render aid and get help for this officer for a chance to survive.”