Police Officer Killed After Woman Grabs His Gun

WEB EXTRA VIDEO: Police Supt. Jody Weis Talks To Reporters About Police Officer Shot

CHICAGO (STNG/CBS 2) ― A Chicago police officer on routine patrol was killed early Wednesday when he struggled with a woman who grabbed his gun and shot him in the head near a police station on the Northwest Side.

WBBM's Bernie Tafoya reports.

Officers responding to the shooting at Belmont and Western opened fire on the woman, critically wounding her, police said.

Photo: Officer Richard Francis with his pet dog.

Both were taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where Officer Richard Francis, 60, a 27-year veteran of the force, was pronounced dead at 2:57 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

His body was taken by ambulance to the morgue where a handful of officers saluted as it arrived.

“Our focus right now is on his family. It's a tragic loss for his family. It's a terrible loss for the Chicago Police Department,” Supt. Jody Weis said outside the hospital. “It's a stark reminder of what the dangers that the officers of this department face everyday.”

Francis was on routine patrol when he responded to a disturbance around 2 a.m. and approached a woman, Weis said. The woman struggled with him, grabbed his gun and shot him once, Weis said.

The woman threatened other officers who responded, and they shot her several times, according to Weis.

The shooting happened near the Belmont Area (Area 3) Headquarters at 2452 W. Belmont Ave. The building houses a district police station, the detective headquarters for five North Side districts, and a Cook County branch courthouse.

Francis joined the department in April 1981. He worked in the Monroe, Near North and Belmont districts, the latter for nearly eight years, according to News Affairs.

Francis's career was marked by numerous achievements. He earned 35 honorable mentions, in addition to a department commendation and several complimentary letters, according to News Affairs. He was also awarded for his deeds when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

Francis lived on the Northwest Side with his wife, Deborah Francis. He has two adult stepdaughters, Bianca and Amanda Kmic.

The Hundred Club of Cook County, a private, non-profit organization, was expected to present Deborah Francis with a check for $50,000.

Neighbors described Francis as a dedicated father and good neighbor. “He was always concerned with his daughter,” said Linda Garcia of the 5200 block of North Neenah. “He spoke about her with great tenderness.”

He would always drop her off to work at a local store and pick her up. “You could see the love he had for her,” said a woman who works with the daughter.

Francis moved into the neighborhood about nine years ago, neighbors said.

“He was a wonderful guy. . . He's been a great neighbor,” said Susan Francek. “Everybody watches out for each other here... He is always working in the yard... He just offered us the swing.

“I have two siblings who are Chicago Police officers,” she added. “It's incredibly hard.”

Another neighbor, Judy Beilfuss, said Francis could always be seen walking his dog.

“Rick loved his bassett hound,” she said. “I heard a disturbance last night. I saw two police officers in front. The dogs were barking like mad.”

The last Chicago police officer killed in the line of duty was Officer Donald J. Marquez, shot and killed on March 18, 2002, according to News Affairs. Officer Jose Vazquez was the last off-duty officer fatally shot -- in the early morning hours of Feb. 12, 2007, outside his Near West Side condo.