Chicago Officer Killed in Hospital Shooting by Suspect Who Was Free on Pre-Trial Release

A man who was free on pre-trial release in a separate criminal case opened fire on police officers at a hospital in Chicago. The shooting incident occurred on April 25, killing one Chicago police officer and injuring another, according to prosecutors.

A 26-year-old man identified as Alphanso Talley was charged on April 27 after he allegedly fatally shot a 38-year-old Chicago Police Department officer Jhon Bartholomew at a Swedish Hospital on April 25 at around 11 a.m. The shooting also injured another Chicago police officer.

Officials said Talley had been taken into custody for a previous armed robbery and had been released on pre-trial release in that case.

Prosecutors said that while Talley was being taken for a CT Scan, he had a gun underneath his blanket, which he allegedly pulled out to shoot both the officers.

After the shooting, Talley fled the scene and was found hiding under a nearby porch, where prosecutors said he was still wearing his hospital gown. When officers found him, he was still holding a 10 mm handgun. Prosecutors said shell casing from the gun matched evidence recovered at the hospital.

On April 27, Talley was charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated unlawful restraint, armed robbery, aggravated discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated battery of a peace officer, escape, and unlawful use of a weapon.

Talley also has a prior gun-related conviction from 2021 and four aggravated robbery convictions from 2017, which prosecutors said qualified him for a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon by a repeat offender.

At the time Talley was accused of murdering Bartholomew and shooting another officer, he was out of jail on pre-trial release for an armed robbery case, according to the Chicago Tribune.

A warrant for Talley’s arrest was issued on March 11 while he was on pre-trial release for the alleged armed robbery. Talley was ordered detained on April 27 during a court hearing and was remanded to the Cook County Department of Corrections.

John Caranzara, an officer with the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, said during a press conference that the shooting should be a wake-up call for Illinois politicians.

“I am going to ask you something. Are you going to keep being there and call out these judges and politicians, the SAFE-T Act, and all the poor decisions made in this building and in Springfield that have led to this moment? Or are you going to fade off into the sunset once this bond hearing and the trial are over?” he said.

Without media pressure, nothing changes. It just doesn’t. They literally hide in a corner and continue their never-ending efforts to let criminals out on the street, in any way, shape, or form, so that they can excuse bad behavior. It needs to f… stop," he added.