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A man was charged with attempted murder, among other charges, after opening fire on Chicago police officers who were called to the scene of a shooting Saturday in what some believe was a hate-fueled attack.
According to Chicago police, Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, faces 14 charges, including six counts of attempted first-degree murder and seven counts of aggravated shooting of police officers and firefighters with a firearm after allegedly shot at a 39-year-old man. man then opened fire on first responders called to the scene.
Abdallahi was arrested at 10 a.m. Saturday in the 6800 block of North Washtenaw, less than 30 minutes after the 39-year-old man was shot to death in the 2600 block of West Farwell in the West Ridge in the city, police said.
In the earlier shooting, police said a gunman came out from behind and shot the victim in the shoulder. After police and firefighters responded to the area, the possible suspect came out of an alley and began shooting at officers and paramedics, police said. The suspect came out of “various locations” over the next two and a half minutes and exchanged gunfire with Chicago police officers, authorities said.
The police responded and hit Abdallahi several times. No police officers or firefighters were injured in the shooting, but Abdallahi was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The 39-year-old man, injured in the first shooting, was also transported to an area hospital, where he was treated and released Saturday afternoon.
According to the United Jewish Fund, police said in a meeting with the group on Monday that Abdullah shouted “Allahu Akbar” while shooting at the officers, leading some to believe the attack may have been motivated by hatred. .
“Our community has every confidence in law enforcement to thoroughly investigate the attack and to provide security in partnership with our own community security and safety assets, always, but especially now, but with a manner that does not increase anxiety,” the JUF said in a release on Monday.
Police, however, have not confirmed those details to NBC Chicago and no hate crime charges have been filed.
“CPD recognizes that the pace of publicly available information about the investigation adds an additional layer of frustration for our community,” the JUF statement read. “Unfortunately, unsubstantiated and downright false information is spreading and contributing significantly to unnecessary and unnecessary anxiety. Law enforcement’s priority is to do nothing that could jeopardize the investigation and possible prosecution.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Chicago Division said it “is aware of the referenced event and continues to work diligently with local, state and federal partners to provide critical resources and assistance as we grow into it.” let’s learn more.”
“Illinois residents deserve to feel safe while traveling the streets of our neighborhoods, and we are committed to doing our part to restore a sense of calm to the community,” the agency said in a statement .
The FBI urged anyone with information to contact them at (312) 421-6700 or via tips.fbi.gov.
