City honors Chicago cop killed trying to thwart Mercy Hospital shooter, 2 officers killed by a train

The police stars of three Chicago officers — one who was killed trying to thwart a shooting at Mercy Hospital last year, and two others who were struck by a train weeks later while investigating a report of gunfire — were retired Tuesday.

“These men were all fathers, these men were all CPD,” Supt. Eddie Johnson said at the ceremony at Chicago Police headquarters at 35th Street and Michigan Avenue, where their police stars were added to the “Honored Star Case.”

“Some day, the sons and daughters of these men will come into this building, and one of the first things they’ll see are the walls and the stars of the city’s fallen heroes,” Johnson said. “I like to think their fathers will be looking down, smiling as they find the star that once belonged to their daddy.”

Samuel Jimenez, 28, was fatally shot in the neck while chasing a gunman through Mercy Hospital in Bronzeville on Nov. 19, 2018.

Chicago Police photo

Moments earlier, a gunman fatally shot his former fiance, Tamara O’Neal, 38, an emergency room doctor, as well as Dayna Less, 24, a pharmacy resident.

Jimenez’s actions were credited with preventing additional shooting victims.

The stars of Officers Eduardo Marmolejo, 36, and Conrad Gary, 31, were also placed in the “Honored Star Case.”

Both men were on train tracks near 101st Street and Dauphin Avenue on the evening of Dec. 17, 2018, to investigate a report of gunfire in the area when the sound of a northbound train muffled the sound of a southbound train approaching them from behind.

Marmolejo and Gary were both struck and killed.

“It is my sincere hope that every person who passes through this hallowed hallway will pause and learn the sacrifices of the brave men and women, the heroes, who are honored here,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said at the ceremony, which was attended by family members of the deceased officers and dozens of other officers in uniform.

With Tuesday’s addition, there are 508 stars in the case, each representing a fallen officer.

Chicago Police photos