A second officer remained critically injured after the shooting at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital.
CHICAGO, IL — A Chicago police officer killed Saturday during a shooting at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital was identified as 38-year-old John Bartholomew, while a second officer remained critically injured, officials said.
Bartholomew, a 10-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, was shot while guarding a robbery suspect who had been brought to the hospital for medical care. The shooting turned a routine custody transport into a citywide emergency, drew a large police response to the North Side and left investigators trying to determine how the suspect got a gun after arriving at the hospital.
The shooting happened around 11 a.m. Saturday at the hospital at 5140 N. California Ave. in the Ravenswood area. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said the suspect had been arrested in a robbery case and was taken to the emergency room before a planned transfer to jail. The suspect opened fire while under police supervision, striking Bartholomew and another officer. Snelling said one officer was killed and the other was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition. “This is a tragic day for the Chicago Police Department,” Snelling said as city officials gathered near the hospital after the shooting.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Bartholomew on Sunday. Officials said the second officer is 57 years old and has served with the department for 21 years. His name had not been released as of Sunday night. Both officers were assigned to the 17th District, which covers parts of the Northwest Side. Police said the suspect fled the hospital after the shooting and was later captured nearby. Authorities said a weapon was recovered, but they had not publicly explained how the suspect obtained it or whether it had been hidden, taken from someone else or missed during screening.
Endeavor Health said the suspect was wanded when he arrived and was escorted by law enforcement at all times under hospital safety rules. The hospital said no patients or staff members were hurt. The building was locked down after the gunfire as police searched the area and secured the hospital. Officials said the lockdown was later lifted. The shooting raised urgent questions about custody procedures inside medical settings, where officers must balance security with treatment needs. Investigators were expected to review hospital video, police body-camera footage, officer statements, transport records and the chain of custody for any weapons recovered.
Chicago officials said charges against the suspect were pending Sunday evening. Police had not released the suspect’s name, age or full arrest history. Investigators were still working to build a timeline from the robbery arrest through the hospital transport, shooting, escape and capture. The case is expected to move through the Cook County state’s attorney’s office after detectives finish reports and prosecutors review evidence. Officials also were expected to release more information on the injured officer’s condition, the recovered firearm and whether any hospital or police security procedures will change after the shooting.
Outside the 17th District police station, flags flew at half-staff as flowers and blue ribbons appeared in memory of Bartholomew. Alderman Jim Gardiner said Bartholomew was a husband and father and asked residents to remember his family and the wounded officer. Neighbors near the hospital described seeing officers flood the blocks around Carmen Avenue after the suspect fled. Madison Heckl, who lives nearby, said police surrounded the area with weapons drawn as they searched alleys and yards. “There were over 60 cops around here,” Heckl said, describing a scene that left residents shaken.
Bartholomew’s death marked another loss for a department that has seen officers killed in the line of duty during calls, pursuits and violent confrontations across the city. Mayor Brandon Johnson said the shooting showed the risks officers face while carrying out daily assignments. Police leaders said support was being provided to the officers’ families and colleagues. The injured officer remained the focus of concern as investigators continued to interview witnesses and collect evidence from the hospital and nearby blocks.
The suspect remained in custody Monday, April 27, as charges were pending and police awaited updates on the wounded officer. Officials said more details would be released after investigators complete key interviews and prosecutors review the case.
Author note: Last updated Monday, April 27, 2026.