Off-duty police officer dies after robbery attempt
Sun-Times Media
May 20, 2010
- An off-duty Chicago Police officer shot in the head during an attempted armed robbery late Wednesday has died and his father -- a retired police sergeant -- shot two of the male suspects, one fatally, on the South Side, according to police.
A neighbor identified the officer as Tom Wortham.
Thomas Wortham, IV, 30, of 8458 S. King Dr., was shot at the same location, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. He was pronounced dead at 12:07 a.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, a medical examiner's spokeswoman said.
Also shot was Brian Floyd, 20, of 3741 S. Wentworth Ave., the spokeswoman said. Floyd was dead on the scene at South King Drive, she said.
About 11:30 p.m., the off-duty police officer was on his motorcycle in the 8400 block of South King Drive when he was approached by several individuals in a robbery attempt, according to Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis outside Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where the officer died.
Gunfire was exchanged and two offenders were shot -- one fatally -- as well as the officer, Weis said. The suspect who was wounded is receiving medical attention, he said, declining to give the condition or hospital information.
The district officer said the off-duty officer had just finished visiting or having dinner with his family when three men approached and attempted to rob him outside his family's home. One of the men shot the off-duty officer in the head.
The officer’s father came to his aid and shot two of the attackers -- one fatally, according to the officer.
Police detectives and investigators swarmed the scene early Thursday outside the ranch-style house, and as of 1:30 a.m. one body remained on the scene in the street, covered with a white sheet.
Fire Media Affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor said paramedics responded to a reported shooting and initially took two people in critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center of Oak Lawn. Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said the officer was in “extremely critical” and “unstable” condition.
A vehicle seen fleeing the scene has been located, Weis said, but declined to say when and where.
The off-duty officer was 30 years old and a three-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, Weis said. He was not married and did not have any children, he said. He did not release the officer's name pending family notification.
Weis said the officer's father is a retired police officer with the Chicago Police force.
After the press conference, Weis was on his way to the medical examiner's office with the slain officer's body, police News Affairs Lt. Maureen Biggane said.
The off-duty officer was an Englewood District police officer, according to a statement from Police News Affairs.
The father was a retired police sergeant, according to a police source.
Neighbor Elliot Powell, 52, of the 8500 block of South King Drive, had seen the officer on his motorcycle five hours earlier and broke into tears when the news broke on the scene that the officer has died.
"We waved to each other," Powell said. "I shouted, 'How ya doing?' and he replied, 'Fine.' He was a very cordial person."
"It's a tragedy because he's a neighbor of mine," Powell said. "They're a wonderful family. They are in my prayers. They know we love them. They are a good, solid family."
Powell was standing in his kitchen at the time of the shooting.
"[The shooting] sounded like fire crackers," Powell said. "I went to the front of the window and saw two bodies lying toward the front of the car in front of my neighbor's home."
Powell called 9-1-1, and a dispatcher advised him to stay away from windows.
After he called at 11:27 p.m., police squad cars began arriving at the scene. "Ten or 12 squad cars got there. They just kept coming and coming."
Powell said the officer worked two tours of duty in Iraq. He did not think the officer lived at the house, but visited frequently because it was where his parents -- to whom he was "very close" -- live.
Powell is an active member of a local community group and said this was the third shooting in the area in three months. One occurred in March and one in April during which two teens were shot at nearby Cole Park while playing basketball, he said.
Neighbor Regina Oakley, of 8225 South King Drive, was asleep when she heard the shooting.
"I got up and looked out the front window and saw squad cars," Oakley said. She then saw the officer's father come out of the house.
Oakley said the officer's father was also very "active in the community."
He has a very loud voice, according to Oakley who said she sees the family often. "He [officer's father] comes to our block club meeting,'' she said.
Chicago Police requested State Police assistance in locating the maroon Nissan Maxima involved in the shooting. The car was last seen heading northbound on the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-94), Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Anthony Hoop initially said.
The gunman initially fled in the car westbound on 83rd Street, where it entered the northbound lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway, Hoop said.
Chicago Police also requested help from State Police to clear a path on the roadway to expedite the injured officer to the hospital, Hoop said.
"Initially they were going to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, but because of the nature of the injuries, they were diverted to Christ," Hoop said, who also confirmed the officer had died.
Hoop said an accident occurred on the way to Christ. A State Police squad car assisting in the escort and traveling with the ambulance was struck when another vehicle tried to get around a street closure at the intersection of West 95th Street and South Pulaski Road, he said.
The State Police officer was uninjured, but three people in the other vehicle -- the driver and two passengers -- were transported to Christ with "non life-threatening injuries," Hoop said. They will be treated and released, he said.
The officer's emergency lights were activated during the time of the collision, Hoop said. The incident is being investigated but no citations have yet been issued.
Illinois State Police District Chicago Trooper Mark Hall could not confirm that a matching vehicle had been located as of 3:30 a.m.
Calumet Area detectives are investigating.
The police News Affairs statement said the Independent Police Review Authority are also investigating.
© Copyright 2009 Sun-Times Media, LLC
This story just saddens me to the core. We have just lost one of the best and most honorable men that our society can still produce. Read the story carefully. Can you think of a more decent man than Thomas Wortham, IV? His father, God bless him, certainly ranks right up there. I can not even begin to imagine the amount of grief he and his family is going through.
There will be the ever present outcry to denounce guns and a clamor for more control. This will not accomplish anything. I hate to say this, I really do, but the biggest accomplishment has already occurred. And that is the elimination of one punk and the wounding of another by Thomas' dad.
Picture how Thomas was raised by his parents. Now picture how the three punks were raised. The difference between the two pictures is the problem. Plain and simple.
I am not at all relieved that the punk lost his life. All life is precious. But, without question, he did get what he deserved. I am deeply saddened by Thomas losing his life...he did not deserve what he got.
I don't know what the solution is to correct this frustrating problem, but I do know that Thomas, if he were still alive, would be involved trying to help. He risked his life overseas to protect us and our freedoms. He deserves the best we can muster to further and bolster his very impressive legacy. Do what you can...our future depends mightily on the energy and actions of good people like the Worthams.
When you are blessed to be in the presence of such productive and unselfish folks please be supportive...let them know your gratitude.
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