Violent Crime Round-Up

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jul 2, 2008 3:40PM

Sorry to start the day as a Debbie Downer, but it was a bad night for violent crime in the city. Yeesh.

• A 27-year Chicago Police veteran was killed early this morning just outside the police station at Belmont and Western. Belmont District Officer Richard Francis, 60, responded to a call of a street disturbance across the street from the station. He was confronted by a woman and a struggle ensued, during which the woman grabbed Francis' gun and fatally shot him in the head. Responding officers shot the woman, critically wounding her. Francis was the first CPD officer to be shot on duty in over six years. [Trib, S-T, CBS2, Fox]

• Five people, including four women, were shot outside a Bellwood home in the 400 block of Hyde Park Avenue Tuesday night. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life threatening. [Trib, S-T]

• There were a rash of shootings the injured several children yesterday, including an 11 year-old girl who was shot in the face and a 9 year-old boy who was shot in the foot. [Trib, S-T, ABC7]

• Two men were found stabbed at El stations in separate incidents. The first was discovered around 10 p.m. at the Library station (State & Van Buren). The investigation resulted in 10 minute delays for the Pink, Orange, and Green lines. The man was in serious to critical condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The second incident occurred at the Lawrence Red Line station Uptown where a CTA security guard reported a man who was apparently stabbed on the platform. He was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and his condition was not known. [Trib, S-T, CBS2]

• Finally, multiple homicide suspect Nicholas T. Sheley was arrested in downstate Granite City last night. He surrendered without a struggle. There's also this detail: "In a statement Tuesday, the FBI said all eight victims were killed by "blunt force trauma" to the head. A law-enforcement source said an ax was used in one or more of the homicides, and that method led authorities to begin linking the crimes."