Chicago mourns fallen police Officer Ella French after West Englewood capturing; three suspects in custody

CHICAGO (WLS) – Chicago continues to mourn 29-year-old officer Ella French, who was killed at a traffic stop in West Englewood Saturday night while her partner remains in the hospital after being shot.

Flags fly across the city on half of the staff. Police said two suspects are being interviewed by police and a third is in stable condition at Christ Hospital.

Police said the three suspects were stopped at a routine traffic stop near 63rd Street and Bell Avenue in West Englewood on Saturday night. At the time, police said they had exchanged shots with community security officials, including Officer French.

French joined the Chicago Police Department in 2018 after previously working with the Cook County Sheriff’s Department.

Policewoman Ella French
End of observation: August 7, 2021

We’ll #NeverForget the true valor she showed in giving her life to protect others.

Please keep your family, loved ones, and other Chicago police in mind as we mourn the loss of this hero. pic.twitter.com/kEUlNTv0Z4

– Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) August 8, 2021

French is the first Chicago police officer to be killed on duty since 1988. This is also the first time a CPD official has died on duty since Mayor Lori Lightfoot took office.

“A mother lost her daughter last night,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “A brother, his sister. A family that is forever destroyed.

Officer French’s brother also sheds a little more light on who his sister was. In a statement to the Chicago Tribune, he said, “She is my sister, she is my little sister. And as much as I was there for her growing up, she was there for me. And I was proud of her, I’m still proud of her … God took the wrong child. “

Meanwhile, the family remains at the bedside of Officer French’s partner while the latter continues to fight for his life.

The officer, who remains in the intensive care unit, has been on duty since August 2014. Friends say he is 39 years old and married with a young son.

Sources tell the I-Team that the wounded officer has three gunshot wounds: one came out of one eye, one stuck in the back of the head, and one hit his shoulder.

“I ask Chicago to hug our police officers today and encourage them to continue their great work of protecting us all,” said Superintendent David Brown.

WATCH: Mayor Lightfoot, CPD speaks after 2 officers were shot

The pastor of his church had a minute’s silence for him during Sunday services, adding that he loved the community he was serving.

“Father, I told him, ‘You need to rest,'” said Mark Jobe, pastor of New Life Community Church. “He said, ‘No, I’ll stay here for as many days as I need and not leave my son’s side.'”

He went on to say that the officer loved the community where he was shot, “had a real heart for the community, for the people”.

WATCH: CPD officer’s first wife fatally shot since 1988 on duty

“It wasn’t a duty that made him feel stuck in this area. He really loved this place and has a great wife and little boy,” Jobe said.

Police said officers conducted a traffic control with a third officer on South Bell, which resulted in shots being fired by both those in the vehicle and CPD officers.

Officials said two men and one woman were inside.

At some point someone shot the officers in the SUV, who returned fire and injured the shooter, the police said.

“For the time being, we assume that the occupant of the vehicle is the perpetrator who shot the officer,” said Brown.

Police also found a gun at the scene and said none of the suspects had extensive criminal backgrounds.

Recordings from two nearby security cameras show the scene after the attack when first responders arrive.

This is the 27th time a police officer has been shot at in Chicago this year and the 11th time a police officer has been shot.

Irma Ruiz-Collins understands the loss only too well.

“There is an immediate sense of fear, of not coming back, of shock, of sadness,” she said.

Irma Ruiz-Collins, named after her mother, is the daughter of Chicago police officer Irma Ruiz, who was shot dead in 1988 when she confronted an armed man in a West Side school.

As of Saturday, Ruiz was the last female officer killed on duty.

“Your daughter was here to serve and protect. And now she will be able to do that for you, not in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense. And you know that many, many people think of you. And we love you and we pray for you, “Ruiz-Collins told the French family.

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