Police expect to charge suspect in shooting of Cmdr. Paul Bauer in next 36 hours

By Taylor Hartz

Chicago Police commander Paul Bauer was on duty when he was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon at the Thompson Center downtown.

Anthony Guglielmi, Chicago Police spokesman, announced on Twitter early Wednesday that Bauer was on duty at the time of the shooting. Initial reports stated that Bauer was off-duty.

Guglielmi also announced Wednesday morning that police expect to file charges against the suspect in the shooting within the next 36 hours. Detectives worked through the night and “continue to comb through evidence to build our case,” Guglielmi said on Twitter about 7 a.m..

All command staff members will report to Chicago Police headquarters this morning for an address by Supt. Eddie Johnson, Guglielmi said.

Bauer, the commander of the Near North District, was shot multiple times about 2 p.m. while assisting a tactical team in the 100 block of West Randolph, according to Guglielmi.

Bauer, 53, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The shooter is in custody and the weapon was recovered, Johnson said. The suspect, who has not been named pending charges, is a 44-year-old man from the South Side with a felony record going back to 1998, according to court records and police sources.

• Chicago Police Cmdr. Paul Bauer fatally shot by felon in body armor

• EDITORIAL: Paul Bauer — husband, father, neighbor and good Chicago cop