Illinois trooper shot; Chicago homicide suspect in custody

A homicide suspect from Chicago was arrested early Wednesday morning after an Illinois State Police trooper was shot during a traffic stop in Springfield.

Cristobal Santana, 37, was arrested shortly before 2 a.m. after he fled from police following a traffic stop in the 1600 block of Toronto Road in Springfield. ISP said that Trooper Kody Green had stopped Santana at 10:47 p.m., in response to a homicide in Chicago where Santana was a suspect.

During the stop, gunshots were fired, with the trooper being hit in the leg and Santana fleeing on foot. The trooper was in serious condition at a Springfield hospital Wednesday.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Santana was accused of killing a special education teacher in Chicago on Sunday night outside her home in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood on the city’s far southwest side. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that she died of multiple gunshot wounds in the incident.

Santana has not been charged, according to Chicago police.

The shooting was a personal matter to Rep. Bradley Fritts, R-Dixon, as the trooper is engaged to one of his legislative aides. The freshman lawmaker addressed the Illinois House on Wednesday, arguing that law enforcement needs support.

“We need to start prosecuting criminals and supporting law enforcement,” he said. “We need to ensure that they have proper funding, that they are fully staffed and that they know that their government unequivocally supports their efforts to make their state a safer place.”

The Springfield Police Department said a search for Santana was conducted in the area north of Toronto Road, south of Hazel Dell Road, west of 11th Street, and east of Interstate 55.

Police warned people to stay in place with the suspect still at large through the evening. ISP closed the area along Toronto Road between Cotton Hill Road to Horseview Drive in order to investigate. By 2 a.m., Santana was found and taken into custody.

Officers were able to provide aid to the wounded officer until emergency medical services arrived. ISP said no other officers were injured.

An investigation into the shooting continues.

Anyone with information about the Chicago homicide should contact the Chicago Police Department at (312) 7466000.