Police Officer Samuel Jimenez, Star #19526, aged 28 years, was a 1 year, 9 month, 3 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 2nd District – Wentworth.

On November 19, 2018, at approximately 3:15 p.m., Doctor Tamara O’Neal, aged 38 years, became engaged in a domestic dispute with her ex-fiancé, Juan Lopez, in the parking lot of Mercy Hospital located at 2525 S Michigan Avenue. Ms. O’Neal had recently called off her engagement to Lopez. Lopez confronted O’Neil in the parking lot and argued about her calling off the engagement. Lopez also demanded that O’Neil return the engagement ring. Ms. O’Neal was also in the company of a an acquaintance who attempted to intervene. At this time Lopez lifted his shirt and displayed a firearm. Ms. O’Neal’s friend immediately ran into the hospital to summon help and it was at this time Lopez drew his weapon and fired multiple rounds into Ms. O’Neal. Lopez then began to walk toward the Emergency Room entrance; at this time a squad car was entering the hospital’s parking lot. Lopez opened fire on the squad car causing the officers to perform an evasive maneuver. The officer’s then exited their squad car and gave chase of the offender into the emergency room waiting area. A gunfight ensued and a 10-1 was called over the radio. Officer Jimenez and his partner, Police Officer Armando Zambrano #19326, were working beat 231. They were assigned a station assignment and were en route to the 1st District police station when they monitored the call for a 10-1. Only a few blocks away they responded to the scene and joined the officers onscene in engaging Lopez inside the hospital. Inside the hospital’s lobby Lopez continued firing and would fire over 30 rounds during the incident. Unknowingly, Ms. Dayna Less, aged 25 years, a Pharmacy Technician was on an elevator approaching the 1st floor when the shooting inside the hospital was taking place. As she stepped out of the elevator Lopez turned his weapon on her and fired. Ms. Less sustained a fatal gunshot wound. Officer Jimenez was also fatally struck in his neck just above his bullet prrof vest. In addition a second officer sustained a gunshot to his holster, the bullet lodging into the slide of his S&W firearm, which was holstered at the time. The bullet impacted the firearm where the slide meets the frame just above the magazine well. Lopez was shot in the abdomen by police and eventually commited suicide by shooting himself in the head. Officer Jimenez was resuscitated by Mercy Hospital Staff prior to being transported by CFD Ambulance #41 to The University of Chicago Medical Center, located at 5841 South Maryland Avenue. He would later pass away from the injuries he sustained in the gunfight. Ms. O’Neil was pronounced dead on the scene and Ms. Less was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, located at 251 East Huron Street, where she would succumb to her injuries. In total four people were killed in the active shooter incident including Lopez.

Officer Jimenez was waked at Oehler Funeral Home located at 2099 Miner Stteet, Des Plaines, lllinois, his funeral mass was also held in the St. Joseph Chapel at Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe located at 1170 North River Road, Des Plaines, Illinois. He was laid to rest on November 26, 2018 in in Ridgewood Cemetery, 9900 North Milwaukee Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois.

Police Officer Samuel Jimenez, born April 28, 1990, received his Probationary Appointment to the Department on February 16, 2017 and he attended the Jackson Street Police Academy. He earned 1 Carter H. Harrison Medal (posthumously) and 2 Honorable Mentions during his career. Before becoming a police officer he worked as a Detetion Aide for the Chicago Police Department.

Officer Jimenez was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was survived by his wife, Crystal nee Garcia; three children; mother, Esther (nee Rivera) and nine siblings. He was preceded in death by his father.

Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department RD #JB502551.

On August 13, 2019, Officer Jimenez’s star was retired by Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 3510 South Michigan Avenue.