Hours-Long SWAT Incident on South Side Related to Killing Of Off-Duty CPD Officer, Sources Say
An hours-long SWAT situation outside a residence on Chicago's south side related to the recent killing of an off-duty police officer ended early Monday morning with at least one person in custody, police sources tell NBC 5.
According to officials, Chicago police officers along with a SWAT team at 8:30 p.m. Sunday arrived at a home in the 7600 block of S. Bishop Street in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood.
At 10:35 p.m., Chicago police said "the scene is active and remains an ongoing investigation." No further details were provided.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter here.
According to a police source, one person was taken into custody during the incident Sunday evening. Overnight video captured by NBC 5 from the scene shows also shows a person with their hands up around 3:30 a.m. walk into the street and surrender.
Multiple sources tell NBC 5 the SWAT incident is related to the killing of Chicago Police officer Areanah Preston, 24, who was found with multiple gunshot wounds early Saturday morning in Avalon Park.
According to authorities, Officer Preston at 1:40 a.m. Saturday was found near her home by a fellow officer who had responded to a call of shots fired in the 8100 block of South Blackstone Avenue. Preston, who had recently gotten off work, was rushed from a squad car to the University of Chicago Medical Center where she succumbed to her wounds, officials said.
Police have not released further details about the incident.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said during a press conference early Saturday that she spoke with the officer's family, who is "completely shattered."
"I won't speak for her mother," Lightfoot said, "but I can tell you that she poured everything she could into her child. No mother wants to wake up to the tragic news their child is dead and to something as awful and tragic as gunfire."
Lightfoot said she directed Interim Chicago Police Supt. Eric Carter to "spare no expense to make sure we find the people responsible for this and bring them to justice."
Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson issued the following statement Saturday morning:
"This is a profound tragedy, and my heart breaks for the family of the young officer who was murdered early this morning on her way home from work. I’m outraged and devastated by this horrific violence against a public servant, and I will do everything I can to support her family and the Chicago Police Department through this traumatic time. I pray that her killer is apprehended quickly so that justice may be served."
This story will be updated as more details become available.
Source: NBC Chicago
