Illinois State Trooper Fatally Shot On Dan Ryan Expressway

Chicago IL

01 October, 2021

3:27 PM

Description

CHICAGO — A state trooper was fatally shot Friday afternoon on the northbound Dan Ryan Expressway near 43rd Street on the city's South Side, according to the Illinois State Police and Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. The shooting happened around 1:43 p.m., ISP spokesperson Josh Karando confirmed to Patch. Karando called the shooting "officer involved" and said the trooper was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center with "serious injuries." No further information was available from state police. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to Patch Friday afternoon that the trooper had died. "We have been notified," spokesperson Brittany Hill wrote in an email. "[Cause of death] and manner have not been determined at this time." Citing "multiple police sources," NBC 5 and Fox 32 reported the gunshot that killed the trooper appeared to be self-inflicted. According to the law enforcement mental health advocacy organization Blue H.E.L.P., 105 police officers have died by suicide so far this year. A study from the Ruderman Family Foundation found that police are more likely to take their own lives than die in the line of duty. The same study found the suicide rate among police officers is about 30 percent higher than among the general population. Chicago's police suicide rate was even worse — 60 percent higher than national average, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report. Earlier this year, after two Chicago officers took their lives within days, the department announced plans to hire an adviser on mental health. It's not clear if the state police have anything similar. The shooting took place about a mile south of Guaranteed Rate Field, where the Chicago White Sox are scheduled to play a game Friday evening against the Detroit Tigers. As of 4 p.m., the inbound lanes of the expressway were shut down between 43rd Street and 74th Street, and traffic was backed up in both directions. Anyone struggling with mental health can get help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, visiting this website or by texting HOME to 741741.