On January 5, 2015, at approximately 3:33AM, Southwest Patrol officers responded to a shooting call at W. Illinois Avenue and S. Hampton Road. The victim told officers that her boyfriend drove in front of her vehicle, stopped, exited the vehicle with a gun, and fired one shot. The bullet traveled through the windshield, striking the headrest right above the female victim’s head and within inches of striking the infant child behind her. The suspect then took the infant out of the vehicle and drove off with her in a stolen 2008 Chevy Impala.

Officers requested the assistance of Air 1 and they quickly located the vehicle.  A felony traffic stop was conducted in the 1300 block of W. Jefferson Boulevard. During the felony traffic stop, the suspect disobeyed the officer’s commands multiple times and proceeded to grab the infant and used her as shield.

The officers were able to apprehend the suspect, as well as a female juvenile, who was also in the suspect’s vehicle.  The juvenile suspect had a stolen firearm in her waistband.  The officers were then able to reunite the victim with her infant child.  

This is an example of the excellent work done daily by the officers of the Southwest Patrol Division. Their ability to stay calm and focused during a highly stressful situation was a factor in the good outcome of this incident.