Officer John Bartholomew, 38, a ten-year Chicago Police Department veteran and father of three, was killed inside Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital on April 25, 2026. The day began with the arrest of 26-year-old Alphanso Talley in an armed robbery at a Family Dollar. Talley was taken to the hospital after complaining of difficulty breathing and claiming to have ingested drugs.

While being prepared for a CT scan, Bartholomew uncuffed Talley so medical staff could examine him. Talley allegedly produced a 10 mm handgun hidden under a blanket, shot Officer Bartholomew in the head and shot Bartholomew’s 57-year-old partner in the chin. Bartholomew’s wounds were fatal; his partner was in critical condition. Talley fled naked, having taken a hospital employee’s ID badge and firing through a glass door, but was captured shortly after hiding under a nearby porch. The handgun was recovered at his arrest.

Talley, who has prior convictions including robbery and aggravated battery of a peace officer and was on electronic monitoring for a previous carjacking and robbery, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and other felonies; an accomplice in the initial robbery was later taken into custody. Does anyone have information about Bartholomew’s last duty assignment, or about witnesses who were at the hospital that afternoon?