Kendall County Times

A Chicago Police officer who was shot and killed on the Southwest Side of the city has been identified as Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso, the Chicago Tribune reported on March 2.

Lasso, 32, of Marquette Park, was identified after being involved in a shootout on March 1 and eventually died of his injuries. He was identified by the Cook County medical examiner’s office on the morning of March 2.

“My heart goes out to the family, friends and fellow officers of Chicago Police Officer Andres Vasquez Lasso, who was tragically killed while responding to a domestic dispute last night,” state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) said on Facebook. “Too often, we all forget that the men and women of our law enforcement risk their lives each and every day in order to keep us all safe.”

Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown spoke to reporters at Mount Sinai Hospital following the shootout, saying the officer was shot multiple times and died but did not give the name of the officer.

According to the Chicago Tribune report, police responded to a domestic-related call regarding a gunman in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue at about 4:45 p.m. The suspect was chasing a woman down the street with a gun, Brown told reporters.

There were two pairs of officers responding to the incident, and one of the pairs “engaged” with the suspect who fled from officers. After police started to pursue him, shots were exchanged “at close range” between the suspect and Lasso. No other officers fired their guns, Brown said.

According to Brown, the gunman was an 18-year-old man who was shot in the upper body. He was taken to Stroger Hospital to treat his injuries.

Lasso was in the department for five years, and Brown said he “had a bright future ahead of him.” 

This is the first Chicago Police officer killed in the line of duty since August 7, 2021, when Officer Ella French, 29, was shot and killed in West Englewood at a traffic stop.