Man Charged in Officer Slaying at Hospital

Cook County prosecutors say Alphanso Talley, 26, fatally shot Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew and critically wounded a second officer inside Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital on April 25. (abcnews.com) (cbsnews.com) Bartholomew was 38, a 10-year veteran assigned to the Albany Park district, and the second officer is 57 with 21 years on the force. Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said the wounded officer was still fighting for his life. (abcnews.com) (abc7chicago.com) Prosecutors said officers arrested Talley earlier that morning in an armed robbery at a Family Dollar in Albany Park. After Talley told police he had swallowed narcotics, officers took him to Swedish Hospital for observation. (cbsnews.com) (chicago.suntimes.com) In court, prosecutors said Talley’s clothes were removed for a computed tomography scan, but a blanket remained over him. They said his handcuffs came off for the scan, and he then pulled a gun from under the blanket and opened fire. (cbsnews.com) (blockclubchicago.org) Talley fled the hospital after the shooting and was arrested less than two hours later, according to police and prosecutors. He now faces 20 felony counts, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, escape, and weapons charges. (abcnews.com) (wgntv.com) The case widened on April 27 when federal prosecutors in Hammond, Indiana, charged Olivia Burgos with making a false statement while buying the gun used in the shooting. The complaint says she bought a 10mm Glock 29 in Merrillville in May 2024. (chicago.suntimes.com) (nbcchicago.com) According to the federal complaint, Burgos told agents she bought the gun for her then-boyfriend, believed he was a convicted felon, and used money he gave her. Prosecutors also say she falsely denied illegal drug addiction on the purchase form. (chicago.suntimes.com) (blockclubchicago.org) Questions have also turned to why Talley was free before the shooting. Court records cited by local outlets show he had been on electronic monitoring in a separate 2025 carjacking and robbery case and had prior violations before the hospital attack. (cbsnews.com) (chicago.suntimes.com) Endeavor Health said the suspect was scanned for weapons on arrival and remained under law enforcement escort, and no patients or staff were injured. The criminal cases against Talley in Cook County and Burgos in federal court are now moving on separate tracks. (abcnews.com) (abc7chicago.com)