Mercy Hospital Shooting: Samuel Jiminez, Chicago Police Officer, Killed

Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jiminez was killed in the line of duty Monday after he responded to an active shooter incident at the Mercy Hospital and Medical Center on South Side.

Jiminez, 28, was sworn in as an officer in the Chicago Police Department (CPD) in 2017 and had recently completed his 13-month probation period. He was appointed to CPD’s 2nd district, Wentworth, which oversaw neighborhoods such as Douglas, Kenwood, Hyde Park, Oakland, Washington Park, Grand Boulevard and Bronzeville. He is survived by his wife and three children, according to Heavy.

The incident in question took place a little before 3:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. EST) when a man — identified as 32-year-old Juan Lopez — was seen arguing with a female employee of the hospital — identified as Dr. Tamara O'Neal — who was dressed in scrubs. Lopez pulled out a handgun and shot O'Neal multiple times before CPD officers arrived at the scene.

Lopez shot at the squad car before the officers could get out, damaging the vehicle, and then tan into the hospital and continued his shooting spree. Another female staff member of the hospital was shot fatally and Jiminez was found inside the hospital with gunshot wounds.

Martin Luther King Drive was shut down as Jiminez was rushed to the University Of Chicago Medical Center. Around 7 p.m. local time, a CPD motorcade arrived at the medical center. In a press conference shortly after (the video was posted on CPD’s Facebook page), the department’s Superintendent Eddie Johnson confirmed Jiminez’s death.

“This tears at the soul of our city. It’s the face and consequence of evil," Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Monday.

An unidentified officer who had worked with Jiminez said: "He was the real police. He wasn’t in it just for the paycheck."

Lopez died from gunshot wounds, Johnson confirmed, although it was unclear as to whether he was shot by police officers or he died from self-inflicted wounds.

To honor the fallen officer, Chicago police officers were scheduled to begin a procession from the UC Medical Center, where Jiminez died.

Chicago Fire Media tweeted: “It's with profound sadness that we share the death of PO Samuel Jimenez from tonight's senseless active shooter incident. Please pray for his family, his fellow officers & the entire #ChicagoPolice Department”

Anthony Guglielmi, Chief Communications Officer for CPD tweeted: “Fire Commissioner Richard C. Ford II and the entire Chicago Fire Department are sending up prayers for our fallen Brother in Blue, the other victims, and the families affected by the shooting earlier today. Rest in peace officer Samuel Jimenez.”