Officer John Bartholomew, 38, was fatally shot, while an unidentified officer, 57, was critically injured in the incident

Police officers salute as the body of a fellow officer arrives at the county morgue after being fatally shot in the line of duty on April 25, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Police Department officers salute as the body of a fellow officer, John Bartholomew, arrives at the county morgue on April 25, 2026.Credit : Scott Olson/Getty

 

One police officer was killed and another was critically wounded after shots were fired at a hospital in Chicago.

On Saturday, April 25, Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers were transporting an individual to Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital for observation around 10:45 a.m. local time, before taking that person to jail on a separate offense, “at which time two of our officers were shot,” CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling said in a press conference.

“One was shot critically and was pronounced,” he continued. “The second officer right now is fighting for his life in the hospital. We ask that you keep the families of these officers in your prayers. This is a lot to go through.”

Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased officer as John Bartholomew, 38, per ABC 7 Chicago. The second officer, an unidentified 57-year-old, has been with the department for 21 years and is receiving treatment at Illinois Masonic Hospital.

Chicago police officers stand outside a nearby hospital awaiting updates on two fellow officers who were shot during a prisoner transport incident at Swedish Hospital in Chicago, United States, on April 25, 2026

Chicago Police Department officers stand outside a hospital where two other officers were shot.Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty

“We have an individual who’s in custody right now and a weapon recovered,” Snelling said. “This is an ongoing investigation.”

According to Endeavor Health, the suspect was “wanded upon arrival” at the hospital and escorted by law enforcement at all times, in accordance with their public safety weapon detection protocols.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

“The individual later fired shots at the law enforcement officers and exited the hospital building,” the hospital wrote on Facebook. “He was apprehended and remains in custody. No team members or patients were physically harmed as a result of this incident.”

Police officers watch the scene where a shooting suspect was located at a building near Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital after he shot two officers on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Chicago.

Chicago Police Department officers observe the scene where a shooting suspect was located.John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty

Following the shooting, a manhunt allegedly ensued until the suspect was located around noon, per NBC Chicago.

While Endeavor Health was placed on lockdown during the incident, the lockdown was lifted by 2 p.m.

During the press conference, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson described the incident as “a real difficult moment for our city.”

“Our officers stand in the way of harm every single day,” he said. “They have family that expect them to come home. One of our officers will not be able to return to their family.”