An 18-year-old suspect has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Chicago police officer in Gage Park late Wednesday afternoon.
Steven Montano, of the 2500 block of South Lawndale Avenue, faces a first-degree murder charge, in addition to felony charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon with no FOID card and aggravated discharge of a firearm near a school building.
Montano also faces two misdemeanor charges, for simple assault and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence respectively.
The 18-year-old was taken into custody moments after fatally shooting 32-year-old Chicago police officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso after police responded to a call of Montano chasing a woman with a gun.
Vasquez-Lasso and Montano exchanged gunfire following a brief pursuit, with Vasquez-Lasso being struck to the head and leg several times.
The wounded officer managed to return fire in the perilous encounter, striking Montano who was then hospitalized in critical condition.
Montano is due in central bond court on Friday.
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"We are heartbroken," Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said during a press conference Wednesday. "Policing is a big family. People know at some point they may be asked to make the ultimate sacrifice. But you never wish or hope that it actually happens. And tonight, this tragedy did."
According to officials, an investigation is ongoing, and body camera footage from the responding officers is currently being reviewed.
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As more details about the incident continue to unfold, here's what we know about the fallen officer:
What We Know About the Officer
Brown on Wednesday said that Andres Vasquez-Lasso was married, and had recently celebrated five years with the department.
Brown added that the officer has family in Colombia and other parts of the world, and that the department had been working to notify them about what occurred.
"We always ask all of you please respect this family," Brown said Wednesday. "So we'll have more about this offer later, but we're going to go with the family's pace in their comfort level with sharing more about this officer."
“This is a family of public servants, and as you can imagine, they are taking this tragedy very hard," Brown added.
"He died while protecting Chicago and it's people," the police department said in a statement Thursday. "We will never forget his selflessness and dedication as we continue to wrap our arms around his family and loved ones. Together, we mourn the loss of our hero."
Late Wednesday, dozens of Chicago police officers and first responders lined city streets and escorted an ambulance carrying the body of the fallen officer from Mount Sinai Hospital to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.
When and Where The Officer Was Shot
According to authorities, officers in the Eighth District at 4:43 p.m. Wednesday responded to domestic-related call of a person with a gun in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue in the city's Gage Park neighborhood.
Brown later said the caller had stated that a man was chasing a female down the street with a gun.
When officers arrived, one group went to the front door of a residence, but a second squad car encountered the suspect on foot, police said.
As officers got out of the squad car, the man, who was armed, began running, authorities say.
"At close range, shots were exchanged," Brown said. According to authorities, the officer was struck multiple times.
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The officer returned fire, striking the suspect in the head, Brown said. The man was then transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
According to Brown, the officer was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
"The investigation is ongoing," Brown said, noting that body camera footage, ballistic evidence and other video is currently being reviewed. Additionally, the use of force in the incident is being investigated by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, Brown said.
What We Know About The Suspect
Steven Montano, who is in critical condition at an area hospital after being shot in the head, was charged with a misdemeanor in connection with a July 2022 incident in which he fled on foot from a vehicle that was stopped by Chicago police.
The State’s Attorney’s office says that the suspect was charged with a misdemeanor and was released without bond because of his lack of criminal history.
“The defendant, who had no prior record, was given an I-bond after being charged,” the office said. “The defendant, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was not charged with a felony because the evidence does not support a charge of gun possession.”
Foxx’s office said that the suspect was charged with a misdemeanor for running from the vehicle. The driver was charged with felony counts of illegal gun possession.
The defendant in the shooting appeared in court in August, and was offered “an alternative to traditional prosecution,” which included 25 hours of community service. He completed that, and the case was dismissed in November.
What Else We Know
Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined Supt. Brown in addressing the media Wednesday night.
"I want to remind people that every single day, on every shift, officers run to danger for our safety. If you see an officer tonight, or the next day, thank them for their service. They need our thanks. They need our support, they need to know that every one of our city has their backs," Lightfoot said.
Mayoral runoff candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson also released statements on the officer's death in the line of duty.
"The courageous men and women of the Chicago police department have suffered another tragic loss of one of their own to the ultimate sacrifice of protecting our communities. My heartfelt thoughts are with the officer’s loved ones and the entire CPD family who are grieving during this difficult time. This is a tragic reminder of what our police officers do each and every day, laying their lives on the line for us. This violence must come to an end,” Vallas' statement said.
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson released the following statement:
“This is a sad and sorrowful day for our city, and my heart goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of the Chicago police officer whose life was taken in the line of duty in Gage Park this afternoon. I am praying for healing for all those close as we await further details on this tragedy," Johnson said.
In an emotional Facebook post, the Deerfield Police Department on Thursday mourned the fallen officer. "When an officer loses their life, it not only affects their agency, but all of us in blue," the post read in part.
According to authorities, this fatality is the first to occur in the line of duty since Detective Joseph Tripoli died in Jan. 2022 due to complications from COVID.
A total of 557 police officers have died in the line of duty while serving in the city of Chicago.
