Police early this morning shot and killed one of two armed robbery suspects and were involved in a possible barricade situation at a Bridgeport neighborhood convenience store, officials said.
A large contingent of police was surrounding JJ Peppers Food Store, 3101 S. Union Ave., where the second suspect may have been inside. Slightly after 5:30 a.m., police appeared to have shot tear gas into the store, according to reporters on the scene.
At about 1:30 a.m., two Chicago police officers driving by in their squad car saw two people wearing hoodies enter the store, said Pat Camden, a spokesman for the Fraternal Order of Police who came to the scene. They stopped, and then saw one of the suspects jump over the counter, he said.
The two officers quickly entered the store, and one of the suspects opened fire, Camden said. One officer returned fire, killing the suspect, he continued. The Cook County medical examiner's office confirmed it had been notified of a death at the location, but had no further information.
The other suspect ran to the back of the store, and police at 4 a.m. still were not sure if he had run away or was still in the store, Camden said.
At 6:10 a.m., traffic on 31st Street was still blocked off between Halsted and Wallace streets.
Police News Affairs could only confirm that an officer had wounded a suspect.
At 5 a.m., a police spokesman said the situation "appeared to be wrapping up," but could provide no details.
Cindy Surzynski, who lives on the block, said she heard six shots shortly after 1:30 a.m., followed by five more.
"I went out on the front porch and saw a crowd of police officers," she said, adding that police were searching garbage cans and gangways near the store. Police helicopters hovered over the scene.
A member of a police SWAT team surrounding the store yelled: "Put your hands on your head and come out," she said.
Surzynski said this was the third robbery she was aware of in the neighborhood in recent weeks. "All of a sudden I'm concerned about my block," she said.
A man in his 30s works the overnight shift at the store, she said. Police radio communications indicated that clerk got out of the store, but police could not confirm that.
The Cook County medical examiner's office as of 3:30 a.m. had not been notified of any death, a spokeswoman said.
SHOOTING 5100 S. Rockwell OCCURED IN THE 9th DISTRICT Beat 924 (Jan. 1, 2011-May 3, 2011)
Shooting- 2
Homicide- 0
Drug Arrests- 37
Robbery- 22
Gun Arrests-2
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