Andres Vasquez-Lasso: Chicago cop, 32, fatally shot in gunfire exchange while chasing suspect
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: A Chicago police officer was fatally shot on Wednesday afternoon, March 1, while responding to a domestic-related call on the city’s Southwest Side, as per the officials. The 32-year-old officer was shot in exchange for gunfire in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue, according to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, or COPA. He was identified on Thursday as Andres Vasquez-Lasso, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The officers in the Eighth District were responding to a call at about 4.43 pm on Wednesday which stated that a woman was being chased down the street by a man with a loaded gun, Chicago police Superintendent David Brown said in a statement at a news conference on Wednesday night. While a group of officers arrived at the scene in a car, another squad, including Vasquez-Lasso and another officer, chased the 18-year-old suspect on foot. The two officers began to pursue him until shots were exchanged at a close range. Vasquez-Lasso was shot multiple times and was soon taken to the Mt Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The 18-year-old received a bullet in his head and is in critical condition, Brown stated.
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Officer Andre Vasquez-Lasso exemplified honor and courage when he was fatally shot responding to a person with a gun call.
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) March 2, 2023
Last night, we honored his heroism as we escorted him to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
End of Watch: March 1, 2023. pic.twitter.com/HFmecjDYXE
Vasquez-Lasso was a five-year veteran at Chicago Police Department
Brown told reporters that Vasquez-Lasso “had a bright future ahead of him,” and had completed five years in the Chicago Police Department. “This is a family of public servants,” Brown said, “and as you can imagine, they are taking this tragedy very, very hard. … This is something that no family should have to face.” He also confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing with the department submitting evidence to COPA.
“Our hearts go out to this young officer’s family,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said at the news conference, as per NBC Chicago. “And I echo what the superintendent said. We need to lift them [the officer’s family] up in our prayers and wrap our arms around them as they go through this journey of grief and loss.” Lightfoot added as a reminder that police officers work for the sake of public safety “every single day, on every shift” and urged people to thank officers for their service.
Vasquez-Lasso’s family created a GoFundMe
Vasquez-Lasso’s family created a GoFundMe campaign on Thursday, March 2, to help take care of the funeral bills and provide financial support for his loved ones. “We are deeply saddened to share the news that one of our brave police officers, Andres Vasquez-Lasso, has passed away in the line of duty,” his family stated on the page. “Andres was a dedicated and courageous officer who served our community with honor and distinction. We are grateful for his service and will always remember his sacrifice."
Vasquez-Lasso appears to be the first Chicago police officer to be fatally shot in the line of duty since Ella French who was killed during a traffic stop in West Englewood which took place in August 2021.