Chicago police officer killed in shootout

A veteran Chicago police officer was killed Wednesday by a woman who grabbed the officer's gun during a struggle and shot him in the head, authorities said.

Officer Richard Francis, 60, was pronounced dead at Illinois Masonic Medical Center a little over an hour after the shooting, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The suspect in the shooting was also taken to Illinois Masonic, where she was reported in critical condition after being shot by responding police officers. She has not been identified.

"Our focus right now is on his family. It's a tragic loss for his family, it's a terrible loss for the Chicago Police Department," Police Superintendent Jody Weis said of Francis' death. "It's a stark reminder of what the dangers that the officers of this department face everyday."

Weis said Francis, a 27-year veteran, noticed the woman was engaged in a disturbance around 2 a.m. Wednesday and stopped to investigate. A struggle resulted, during which the woman allegedly got control of the officer's weapon and shot Francis in the head, according to police.

Other officers responded to the shooting, and when the woman threatened them with the weapon, they shot her, Weis said.

Mayor Richard Daley on Tuesday extended condolences to Francis' wife and two stepdaughters.

"He was a conscientious and professional officer who will be remembered for the dedication and commitment to duty that he showed throughout his career," Daley said in a release.

Francis had received several commendations throughout his career as an officer and his time serving with the U.S. Navy, Chicago police said.

Francis is the first Chicago police officer shot and killed in the line of duty since 2002. An off-duty officer was shot and killed in February 2007.