On Thursday, prosecutors provided a detailed account of events from Saturday morning, involving a man who had escaped electronic monitoring the previous month. They allege that he embarked on a crime spree, beginning with a violent robbery at a Family Dollar store in Albany Park and culminating in the shooting of two Chicago Police officers—one of whom was killed—at a North Side hospital only hours later.
Judge D’Anthony Thedford has ordered Alphonso Talley, age 26, to remain in custody, citing him as too dangerous for release.
The alleged crime spree commenced at 8 a.m. on Saturday at a Family Dollar store located in the 3200 block of West Lawrence Avenue. Here, a 55-year-old cashier had just started her shift. Within a minute of the store opening, at 8:01 a.m., Talley and a yet-to-be-identified accomplice, both wearing black jackets, sweatshirts, and face masks, entered the store, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara.
Following standard store procedures, the cashier requested the accomplice to leave his backpack at the front. As he complied, prosecutors assert that Talley drew a handgun from his waistband and forced the cashier into a back office, striking her in the face during this confrontation.
Prosecutors state that Talley held the woman at gunpoint while his accomplice attempted to access the cash register and safe. When Talley commanded her assistance, she claimed she lacked access. He then forced her around the store at gunpoint, during which they rifled through her purse, seizing her wallet and car keys.
The woman was reportedly struck twice more, causing her to bleed and breaking her nose. Talley then coerced her back to the register, where she managed to open it. The duo stole $110 and fled using Lime scooters rented with an account linked to Talley’s name, Pekara reported.
After the suspects departed, the cashier activated the store’s panic button and, with customer assistance, contacted the police, providing descriptions of both men. CPD officers swiftly located Talley near the 3400 block of North Troy Street by tracking pings from a GPS device hidden in the store’s cash, according to Pekara. Talley was attempting to order an Uber when apprehended, and surveillance footage showed him discarding the cashier’s wallet in a garbage can.
Officers discovered what prosecutors described as bloodstained cash on Talley, and noticed apparent blood on his pants and shoes.
The cashier received treatment at a hospital for a broken nose and two black eyes, with Pekara indicating that she will need further surgical care.
Surveillance footage from the squad car showed Talley appearing to manipulate an object while handcuffed, claiming he had swallowed drugs and was struggling to breathe. An ambulance was called to transport him to Swedish Covenant Hospital for evaluation, accompanied by Bartholomew and his partner for security.
At the hospital, Talley was restrained in an exam room, with his left arm handcuffed to a bed railing, though permitted to keep his pants on. When prepared for a CT scan, he was given privacy to change, despite remaining restrained.
Prosecutors state that as preparations for the scan began, Talley’s restraints were removed, allowing him to produce a 10mm semi-automatic handgun from under a blanket—a weapon used in the robbery. He shot Bartholomew in the head, resulting in the officer’s death shortly thereafter.
Following the shooting, two hospital employees fled the CT room as Talley fired at the second officer, hitting him in the chin, with the bullet lodging in the officer’s neck, leaving him critically injured.
Talley then moved through the hospital, causing patients and staff to seek cover. A fire alarm was activated in the CT area, prompting a lockdown requiring badge access.
He confronted two building engineers, brandishing the gun and taking an ID badge from one to navigate secured areas. As Talley approached an exit, he encountered an unaware employee. Prosecutors allege Talley fired through a glass door, exited through it, and chased the employee, demanding car keys, but the employee fled.
Talley then approached a postal worker in a truck, but the driver evaded him. Surveillance footage captured Talley running through residential yards, naked, with a firearm, and still wearing medical equipment from the hospital, some of which he discarded, though he retained the bracelet.
Approximately 80 minutes post-shooting, authorities found Talley hiding under a porch near the 2600 block of West Carmen Avenue, about a quarter mile from the hospital, and reportedly recovered the handgun.
During Thursday’s court hearing, prosecutors outlined Talley’s criminal history, which includes seven felony convictions, four for robbery. At the time of the incident, he was under electronic monitoring for armed robbery and carjacking charges.
Talley faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated armed kidnapping, and numerous other offenses.
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