Dozens of police officers and loved ones of slain Chicago police Officer John Bartholomew lined up outside of St. Andrews Greek Orthodox Church to say their final farewells Friday morning.
Bartholomew, 38, was shot and killed April 25 at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital, allegedly by a robbery suspect that he and his partner had brought there for an evaluation. The other officer was critically wounded. Bartholomew was a 10-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling and other officers, wearing their dress blues and pins with Bartholomew’s pictures on them, waited outside the church to welcome Bartholomew’s family and pay their respects at the funeral on Friday morning.
Hundreds of people gathered at the church on Thursday during a visitation.
Alphanso Talley, 26, is facing murder charges in connection with Bartholomew’s death. Prosecutors said that Talley told police he swallowed drugs and was taken to Swedish Hospital, where he had a firearm concealed under a hospital blanket. Prosecutors haven’t said how they believe Talley brought the gun into the hospital.
Later, when Talley was brought to a room and his handcuffs were removed for a CT scan, he pulled the gun from under the blanket and fired, striking Bartholomew and his partner, according to prosecutors.
Bartholomew was pronounced dead at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. The other officer was shot in his face. He has shown signs of improvement since the shooting, according to Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, who also was at the visitation.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.