A suspect wanted for the attempted murder of two Chicago police officers was arrested in a New York City hospital, where he was being treated for bullet wounds in his hands, law enforcement officials said Wednesday.
The suspect, Jason Francis, 23, whose last known residence was in the Bronx, was arrested by New York police after they linked him to two unrelated robberies committed in the Bronx last fall, according to police there.
Francis was tied to the Chicago shootings Wednesday after Chicago police provided information about the Rogers Park gunfight and three alleged gunmen to New York investigators, law enforcement officials said. A spokesman for the Cook County state`s attorney`s office said Francis` extradition to Chicago would be requested.
By the time he was arrested at the hospital Sunday, Francis already was considered a dangerous criminal by New York police.
A month before the shootout in Chicago, Francis was arrested for allegedly firing a ”defective” handgun at a uniformed police officer during a traffic stop, according to Capt. Eugene Murphy of the New York Police Department. Because the gun did not fire, the charge against Francis was reduced to a misdemeanor, and he was released on bail, Murphy said.
”We knew Francis had this tendency to shoot at cops,” Murphy said.
Two other suspects remain at large, police said. One of them has been identified as Patrick Omar Comi, 25, whose last known residence was in Newport News, Va. The other suspect has been identified only as ”Barry.”
Investigators believe one of the suspects accompanied Francis to Montefiore Hospital, Murphy said.
Chicago police declined to comment on Francis` capture in New York and said details would be disclosed Thursday.
The arrest marked a breakthrough in the 4-day-old manhunt, which was launched after two Chicago police officers, Jacqueline Healy and James Schodtler, were shot at a Rogers Park currency exchange.
According to police, the three suspects overpowered an employee as she opened the door to the exchange at 5918 N. Clark St. shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday.
Healy was shot in the abdomen and shoulder as she entered the premises. She returned five shots. Schodtler was shot in the groin as the gunmen fled on the street. Schodtler also fired his weapon.
The suspects did not get any money, police said.
The getaway car, which was owned by Comi, was abandoned on Farwell Avenue near Ridge Boulevard.
New York police said it is likely that Francis went to Montefiore Hospital, located within a mile of his last known address, seeking treatment for gunshot wounds suffered in the shootout. Both of his hands and one of his arms were injured, Murphy said.
