Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: Authorities charged a suspect Sunday night after a shooting at Swedish Hospital that left one Chicago police officer dead and another “fighting for his life,” according to a police source.
🗞️ Plus: The “poor” condition of city bridges, Chicago’s jazz legacy trail and more news you need to know.
📝 Keeping score: The Cubs were shut out by the Dodgers, 6-0; the White Sox fell to the Nationals, 2-1.
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⏱️: An 8-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER ☁️
Cloudy with a chance of showers and a high near 68.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
Man is charged in Swedish Hospital shooting that left one cop dead, another ‘fighting for his life’
By Kaitlin Washburn, Violet Miller, Mary Norkol, Tom Schuba and Cindy Hernandez
Fatal shooting: A Chicago police officer was killed and another was “fighting for his life” after being wounded in a shooting Saturday morning at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital, the city’s top cop said. The fatally shot officer was identified as John Bartholomew, 38, who worked for the police department for 10 years. No update was provided Sunday on the second officer, age 57, who has not been named.
Suspect charged: Alphanso Talley, 26, was charged Sunday with murder, aggravated unlawful restraint, armed robbery, aggravated discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated battery of a peace officer, attempted murder, aggravated battery, escape and unlawful use of a weapon, according to a police source. He was expected in court Monday.
The timeline
- About 8 a.m.: Roughly three hours before the shooting, the suspect robbed a convenience store in Albany Park. He was reportedly armed and had attacked a woman there.
- Just before 9 a.m.: Two suspects fled and one was arrested in Avondale. He asked to be taken to a hospital because he wasn’t feeling well.
- Two hours later, the shooting happened at Swedish.
- 10:50 a.m.: The suspect shot Bartholomew and another officer, according to police. Officers responded to a call of an active shooter at Swedish at 10:53 a.m. and told SWAT teams to stand by.
- 10:58 a.m.: Police confirmed an officer was shot and the suspect ran away on California Avenue.
- 11 a.m.: Police confirmed two officers were shot and requested backup. Ambulances were diverted from the hospital and police secured a perimeter. Less than 15 minutes later, SWAT teams arrived on the scene. Residents in the neighborhood around the hospital were warned to shelter in place.
- About 12:10 p.m.: The suspect was arrested, according to Ald. Andre Vasquez, (40th).
DC SHOOTING ✶
DC gala shooting suspect aired grievances against Trump in writings to family
By The Associated Press
Saturday shooting: A man armed with guns and knives stormed the hotel lobby outside the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner attended by President Donald Trump on Saturday night, charging toward the ballroom in a chaotic encounter with Secret Service agents as guests dived under tables at the sound of shots being fired.
Messages reviewed: The man accused of opening fire railed against Trump administration policies and referred to himself as a “Friendly Federal Assassin,” in writings sent to family members minutes before an attack that authorities believe was politically motivated, according to a message reviewed by The Associated Press. The writings, sent shortly before shots were fired, made repeated references to Trump without naming him directly and alluded to grievances over a range of administration actions.
What is the WCA?: Special correspondent Lynn Sweet, the Sun-Times’ former Washington bureau chief, explains the White House Correspondents’ Association.
TRANSPORTATION 🚗
1 in 6 Chicago bridges are in ‘poor’ condition. How worried should you be?
By David Struett
Bad bridges: When the city reopened the State Street Bridge in March after nearly a year of emergency repairs, it provided a small bit of relief for traffic snarls along the Near North Side for much of 2025. Those traffic headaches were the result of the city’s unusual move to close five river bridges simultaneously to catch up on a backlog of necessary repairs.
At issue: Exactly 100 of Chicago’s 601 bridges are listed in the same “poor” condition as the State Street Bridge, which unexpectedly shut down in April 2025 — several months before engineers were planning to carry out repairs. That’s 16.6% of all city bridges, well above the national average of 6.7%, according to a Sun-Times analysis of federal bridge inspection records.
Bottom line: Bridge inspections are federally mandated at least every two years, and the results are publicly listed online. If the bridge is classified “structurally deficient” or “poor,” that doesn’t mean it’s at imminent risk of falling down. However, a poorly rated bridge must be inspected more often. And transportation officials are obligated to close any bridges they deem dangerous.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- Midway Blitz investigation?: A Cook County judge, trying to pin down how the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office sees its role investigating alleged crimes by federal immigration agents during last fall’s deportation campaign, could decide next month whether to appoint a special prosecutor for those cases.
- Vendor killed in shooting: Antonio “Coco” Padilla, a Little Village street vendor, was working just a few feet away from his wife and baby Wednesday when he was killed in a shooting that also wounded three women.
- Pope on death penalty: Pope Leo XIV emphasized his support for banning the death penalty in a video sent Friday to DePaul University students. The message marked 15 years since Illinois abolished the practice.
- Red Line extension work: The CTA broke ground on the Red Line extension’s first planned station in a media event Friday featuring elected officials and an appearance by ex-Bull Scottie Pippen.
- Saint Alfred closes: The Wicker Park retailer, credited as a key catalyst sparking Chicago’s streetwear movement, is closing its doors after 22 years. Leadership would not say why.
- JCPenney’s Ford City decision: The last department store anchor at the floundering Ford City Mall has backtracked from an announcement that it would close the location within the next few months.
- ‘Michael’ reception: Superfans of all ages poured into the AMC theater in the South Loop for the opening of the Michael Jackson biopic Friday. Many dressed up and danced, unfazed by critics who slam the film for evading Jackson’s controversies including child molestation claims.
ON WBEZ 91.5 FM 📻
In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons, 9 a.m.
- Domestic violence resources: Guests Smriti Shukla of Apna Ghar, Tahani Hammad of Pillars Community Health and Mable Tappler of Rosenthal Family Lodge explain the options available for people experiencing various forms of abuse.
- Covering domestic violence: Karen Attiah, journalist and author of “The Golden Hour” on Substack, discusses how the media needs to change the way it reports on domestic violence.
Say More with Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith, 10 a.m.
- CTA safety: Alex Nelson of Better Streets Chicago talks about the ongoing safety concerns of bus and train riders. Callers weigh in.
FROM THE PRESS BOX 🏈🏀
- Pritzker’s Bears push: Property tax incentive legislation approved by the Illinois House needs serious changes to keep the Bears out of Indiana, and state senators need to move quickly, Gov. JB Pritzker urged Friday.
- The next Bears: We’re tracking the team’s undrafted free agent signings.
- Kamilla Cardoso hype: Cardoso’s South Carolina coach Dawn Staley says she sees sees All-Star potential for the Sky standout.
- Ex-Bull reflects: Ayo Dosunmu just wanted a big stage on which to perform. Since his trade to Minnesota, he’s gotten it. But would he consider a return to his hometown?
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
Today’s clue: 6A: Piece of public art like “Votes for Women” at 623 S. Wabash
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
Walking the paths of Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong in Bronzeville
By Erica Thompson
On Saturday afternoon, Myron Stokes stood in a Bronzeville performance venue that’s nearly 130 years old.
The room was dark, the walls were worn and the stage was vacant. But he said he could envision what the space was like in the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s.
“I hear the music, the dancing and the snapping of fingers,” said Stokes, 56, of Oak Park, who also imagined what life may have been like for Black crowds back then.
Stokes was part of a group that explored the historic Forum Hall at 318-328 E. 43rd St., where jazz artists including Nat King Cole and Sun Ra played. The tour closed out a day of arts and activities, including performances in the soon-to-open Forum Cafe next door and a neighborhood walk to the homes and haunts of jazz icons.
The free event was part of Chicago’s monthlong celebration of UNESCO International Jazz Day, which culminates in an all-star global concert Thursday at Lyric Opera House.
Event organizers said they hoped attendees felt more connected to their communities and the people within.
“We want neighbors to meet each other,” said Shani “Lady Sunshine” Smith of Calumet Heights, who led the outdoor tour. “We want people to know the histories of their communities and connect around that and take ownership of their communities.”
PICTURE CHICAGO 📸
Members of the Jessie White Tumblers perform at a CTA event to officially break ground on the $5.7 billion Red Line Extension project Friday.
Arthur Maiorella/For the Sun-Times
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Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
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