Chicago police officer dies after he was shot chasing suspect

A Chicago police officer died after he was shot Wednesday afternoon, Superintendent David Brown said.

The male officer was shot on the city's Southwest Side while responding to a call of a man chasing a woman with a gun, Brown said. The officer's name was not immediately released because relatives were still being notified.

"At close range, shots were exchanged between the offender and our officer, who is now deceased," Brown said in a news conference outside Mount Sinai Hospital.

The officer was shot several times as he pursued the suspect, he said.

He was able to return fire and shot the suspect in the head, Brown said. The suspect was in critical condition Wednesday night. Brown said only that he was an 18-year-old with one prior violation.

The officer had five years on the job, Brown said.

He and the other officers "knew it was an offender with a gun call, they were willing to put their lives on the line," Brown said.

"He had a bright future ahead of him," the superintendent said of the slain officer.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot appeared with Brown at the news conference.

"Tragedy has befallen the Chicago Police Department and, really, the city," Lightfoot said.