The suspect in a Chicago shooting spree that resulted in two wounded people including one police officer, said he was trying to “lure” police into the area “because he wanted to kill him,” the Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday.
Tracey Thomas Jr., 29, was charged with five felony counts of attempted murder of a police officer and was arrested Saturday after shooting at five Chicago police officers, striking one in the hand. He wasn’t charged in separate shooting incidents involving civilians, according to the Sun-Times. (RELATED: Three Chicago Police Officers Shot In One Week)
The shooting began at around 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Thomas allegedly approached a person riding a bike and shot him. The victim dodged the shot but his clothing was pierced by the bullet and he went to find help, according to the Sun-Times.
Ten minutes later, two people in a car heard popping noises. When one got out of the car to find the source of the noise, Thomas allegedly shot him in the buttocks, the Sun-Times reported.
Police responded to a report of gunshots. Upon their arrival, someone shot at the three responding officers, ABC 7 reported.
“I was taking my dog out in the backyard. All of a sudden I heard these shots back here,” a witness told ABC 7. “I took my dog in the house and I ran to the front door and saw all the police cars.”
At least one round reportedly struck a police vehicle. Thomas shot one of the responding officers in her hand, according to the Sun-Times. The officer was rushed to a local hospital and was released a few hours later.
Thomas then barricaded himself in a building for multiple hours. He then admitted to the shootings in a 911 call and Facebook videos depicting him holding a gun to his head, the Sun-Times reported. At 2:20 p.m., he surrendered to police.
Crisis Negotiators are currently attempting to establish communication with the armed suspect. #ChicagoPolice pic.twitter.com/zEFFSOikpL
— Tom Ahern (@TomAhernCPD) March 20, 2021
While in custody, Thomas told police he shot at civilians in order to “lure police officers to the area” so he could open fire “because he wanted to kill them,” assistant state’s attorney James Konstantopoulos said, according to the Sun-Times.
Crisis Negotiators are currently attempting to establish communication with the armed suspect. #ChicagoPolice pic.twitter.com/zEFFSOikpL
— Tom Ahern (@TomAhernCPD) March 20, 2021
Offender’s gun recovered at the time of his arrest. #ChicagoPolice pic.twitter.com/wCl1BO1rUW
— Tom Ahern (@TomAhernCPD) March 20, 2021
Thomas’ attorney Courtney Smallwood called for a psychiatric evaluation for her client, who she said appeared to have suffered “some kind of mental break.”
