[chris]

On March 25, 2021, Officer Michael Kocerka, No. 18275, and Officer Bernard Lee, No. 15752, responded to a call of a person shot at the Home Depot at 4555 S. Western Blvd.

As they approached, civilians pointed to the subject, who was fleeing on foot west on 46th Street across Western Blvd. The officers followed in a marked squad car to 2451 W. 46th Street, then got out and pursued on foot after he ran into a backyard and then into the alley between 46th Street and 46th Place.

Officer Kocerka entered the alley and saw the subject walking west. The subject turned around and shot Officer Kocerka, striking him. Officer Lee pulled Officer Kocerka to the front of a garage in the same backyard.

The subject continued west in the alley and entered the backyard of 2540 W. 46th Place. Officers Tobias Houston, No. 10647, and Adam Tapling, No. 9489, saw him and tried to stop him. When Officer Houston tried to enter the backyard, the subject shot at him, and Officer Houston returned fire.

Officers repeatedly told the subject to drop his weapon. As assisting officers entered the gangway leading to the backyard, the subject shot toward them. Officer Jack Kwa, No. 7726, entered an adjacent backyard at 2536 W. 46th Place, stood on a chair, and saw the subject in the backyard.

The subject shot toward officers in the alley again. Officers Houston and Kwa fired, striking him. He was placed into custody and taken by ambulance to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.