One of the wounded civilians was shot by a Chicago police officer, officials said.
CHICAGO, IL — Two people were seriously injured Monday night in Uptown, including one person shot by a Chicago police officer, as city investigators responded to the 1400 block of West Argyle Street after reports of gunfire.
The shooting brought a large police and fire response to a busy North Side area near Clark Street, Argyle Street and Lawrence Avenue. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability opened an investigation into the officer-involved shooting, while Chicago fire officials said two civilians with gunshot wounds were taken to hospitals in serious to critical condition.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability said shortly after 9 p.m. Monday that investigators were responding to an officer-involved shooting in Uptown. A spokesperson for the agency later confirmed that a Chicago police officer shot one person in the area. Ald. Andre Vasquez, whose 40th Ward includes part of the neighborhood, said in a public statement that two people had reportedly been shot and that one of the injured people had been shot by an officer. Officials did not immediately release the names, ages or conditions of either wounded person beyond the initial hospital status. The Chicago Fire Department said one civilian was taken to St. Francis Hospital and another was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Three officers also were taken to Swedish Hospital to be checked out after the incident, fire officials said.
The events leading to the shooting remained unclear early Tuesday. A witness near North Clark and West Argyle streets said he saw officers arrive and try to stop someone before gunfire broke out. The witness said several officers got out of their vehicles and began yelling commands at a suspect, who then ran. “He obviously took off running,” the witness said. He said he moved behind an alley and ducked near a vehicle before hearing several shots. He estimated hearing 15 to 20 gunshots. Other neighbors reported hearing fewer shots, with some saying they heard five to seven. Video from the scene showed at least one person being taken away in an ambulance as police tape blocked part of the street.
Investigators had not said by early Tuesday whether the wounded civilians were suspects, bystanders or connected to each other. Officials also had not said whether any officer was injured by gunfire, whether a weapon was recovered or whether anyone was in custody. Two people who were near the corner told reporters that the person shot by police appeared to be conscious and may have had a leg wound. Authorities had not confirmed that account. Nearby residents also reported a shooting at a condo building near North Clark Street and West Lawrence Avenue before the officer-involved shooting. It was not immediately known whether that reported shooting was connected to the police encounter on West Argyle Street.
The shooting happened in a dense part of Uptown with apartment buildings, small businesses and transit access nearby. The 1400 block of West Argyle Street sits close to the Argyle commercial district, an area known for restaurants, stores and steady foot traffic. A nighttime shooting there drew attention from residents who described a sudden police response and blocked streets. Officers were seen placing police tape around part of the block while items, including what appeared to be bags, were visible on the ground. The scene remained active late Monday as investigators worked to separate confirmed facts from witness accounts and nearby reports of other gunfire.
COPA is the city agency that investigates shootings involving Chicago police officers. Its investigators typically collect body-worn camera video, police radio traffic, witness statements and physical evidence before releasing findings or recommending whether an officer’s actions violated policy. The agency had not released body-camera footage, the officer’s name or a detailed timeline by early Tuesday. The Chicago Police Department had not provided a full public account of what led officers to the block, what commands were given or what happened in the moments before the officer fired. No charges had been announced.
The case adds to a series of recent police shooting investigations in Chicago and the suburbs. COPA’s public records show the agency has posted updates this year on several officer-involved shootings, including cases in Country Club Hills, South Shore and other parts of the city. Each investigation can take weeks or months, depending on the amount of video, witness evidence and forensic review. In the Uptown case, the most pressing unanswered questions include who fired first, whether the two wounded civilians were injured in the same exchange and whether the reported condo shooting near Lawrence Avenue was part of the same incident.
Residents described a chaotic scene after the shots. One witness said officers ran toward the area as people nearby moved away from the sound of gunfire. Others said they saw ambulances and officers filling the block. The police presence stretched across a section of the neighborhood as investigators worked near Clark and Argyle. “Several officers jumped out of their vehicles and started yelling commands,” the witness said. The account matched the broad outline of a fast-moving police response but did not answer why officers were trying to apprehend the person or what threat they believed they faced.
As of Tuesday morning, two civilians remained reported in serious condition, three officers had been taken for evaluation and COPA’s investigation was ongoing. The next major update is expected when police or COPA release a fuller timeline, identify whether anyone is in custody or disclose preliminary evidence from the scene.
Author note: Last updated June 16, 2026.