Five people were taken into custody after officials said undercover agents faced an attempted armed robbery.
COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, IL — A federal agent and a Chicago police task force officer shot two suspects Tuesday evening during an undercover firearms trafficking operation in Country Club Hills, where authorities said five people were taken into custody.
The shooting drew a large response from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to the south suburb near 189th Street and Loretto Lane. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said the gunfire came after suspects tried to rob undercover agents at gunpoint. No law enforcement officers were reported injured. The two wounded suspects were taken to hospitals, and officials later described their conditions as stable.
The ATF said agents were conducting a firearms trafficking operation about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday when an ATF special agent and a task force officer fired their weapons. The task force officer is a member of the Chicago Police Department. Officials said the shots were fired in response to an attempted armed robbery of undercover agents. Two people were hit, taken into custody and transported for treatment. Three other people were arrested at the scene. Authorities had not released the suspects’ names, ages or hometowns by Wednesday afternoon.
Chicago police reported a later time for the shooting, about 7:30 p.m., and officials had not publicly explained the difference between the two timelines. The known scene stretched across several blocks. Investigators focused on the area near 189th Street and Loretto Lane, where a white vehicle was surrounded. A second area, near Martin Lane and Martin Court, drew more investigators who examined a black Mitsubishi. Witnesses told local reporters they heard several gunshots and saw a person wearing a ski mask running through the neighborhood before police and federal agents arrived in force.
The operation involved the ATF, a Chicago police officer serving on a task force and several assisting agencies. The FBI, Illinois State Police, Chicago police and Country Club Hills police were among the agencies seen or identified in the response. Nearby departments also assisted as officers blocked streets and searched the neighborhood. Officials have not said how many undercover agents were present, how the operation began, what firearms were under investigation or whether any weapons were recovered from the suspects.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability opened a case because a Chicago police officer fired a weapon. The agency investigates shootings involving Chicago police officers, including incidents that happen outside city limits. The Illinois State Police, FBI and Chicago Police Department also were listed as part of the active investigation. Charges had not been announced as of Wednesday afternoon. Authorities also had not said whether the wounded suspects would remain hospitalized, be transferred to law enforcement custody or appear in court this week.
The shooting brought a heavy police presence to a residential part of Country Club Hills, a southwest suburb in Cook County. Video from the scene showed investigators working after dark around vehicles and taped-off streets. Residents described confusion as officers from multiple agencies moved through the area. One witness said the response came quickly after gunfire, while others declined to speak publicly because the investigation remained active. Officials released only a short account of the confrontation and did not provide body-camera video or radio traffic by Wednesday.
The case remains under investigation, with five suspects in custody and two of them hospitalized in stable condition. The next public step is expected to be the announcement of charges or additional findings from the agencies reviewing the use of force.
Author note: Last updated June 10, 2026.