A solemn gathering of police officers came together to honor a Chicago officer who lost his life in a tragic shooting. The officer was allegedly killed by a suspect with a lengthy criminal history, who was unfortunately out on pretrial release at the time.
On Friday, approximately 2,000 individuals, including police officers, elected officials, and members of law enforcement, assembled to pay their respects at the funeral of Officer John Bartholomew. The Chicago Police Department officer was allegedly shot by 26-year-old Alphanso Talley on April 25. At the time of the incident, Talley was free on pretrial release. Officer Bartholomew’s partner, Officer Nelson Crespo, was also reportedly shot during the same altercation at Swedish Hospital on Chicago’s North Side.
At the time of the alleged murder, Talley was out on pretrial release for an earlier armed robbery charge. He was supposed to be under electronic monitoring but had two reported violations in early March, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest on March 11, as per court records.
Judge John Lyke, who had been overseeing Talley’s criminal cases for several years, remarked in December that Talley appeared to be on a path toward better decision-making, according to ABC7 News. These court documents reveal that Talley was first placed under electronic monitoring on December 11, 2025, but the device recorded two violations shortly afterward.
The tragic incident took place at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital, where Officer John Bartholomew was fatally shot. This heartbreaking event has left the Chicago Police Department and the community mourning the loss of a dedicated officer.
John Bartholomew was shot and killed at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital. (Chicago Police Department)
“To the children — your father was a hero. His legacy will live on,” Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling said at the funeral. “As John is to be laid to rest. The only thing that I would like to see laid to rest alongside John is violence. Those who go out and do harm to others. Those who take and destroy lives.”
Bartholomew, who was with the Chicago Police Department for 10 years, is survived by his wife and three children.
James Bartholomew said at the funeral that his brother had a “heart of gold.”
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“If you worked with him. If you talked to him, if you laughed with him, if you walked with him. You are feeling what I’m feeling right now. It’s as if an angel has left the earth. If you knew him. You knew his heart was full. His heart was pure,” he said.
Bartholomew’s death sparked outrage by people who say the state’s cashless bail law is to blame for Talley’s pretrial release from jail.
Alphanso Talley was charged with murder after allegedly shooting two police officers. (Cook County Sheriff’s Office)
Alphanso Talley’s prior convictions (Illinois Department of Corrections records):
- Possession/aiding and abetting a stolen motor vehicle (entered prison: Oct. 2, 2023)
- Aggravated battery of a peace officer (entered prison: Oct. 2, 2023)
- Unlawful use or possession of a firearm by a felon with a prior conviction (entered prison: July 19, 2021)
- Aggravated robbery — indicating while armed with a firearm (entered prison: Nov. 1, 2017)
- Aggravated robbery — indicating while armed with a firearm (entered prison: Nov. 1, 2017)
- Aggravated robbery — indicating while armed with a firearm (entered prison: Nov. 1, 2017)
- Aggravated robbery — indicating while armed with a firearm (entered prison: Nov. 1, 2017)
“The SAFE-T Act, let’s be frank, the SAFE-T Act here is geared towards this national movement in America towards de-carceration. We’re seeing it everywhere in the big blue cities and at the state level as in Illinois,” former NYPD investigator Paul Mauro told Fox News. “And the idea is just that locking bad guys up isn’t a good idea, it only creates more and deeper bad guys, and so we shouldn’t be doing it. And quite frankly, that calculus essentially admits that innocents are going to be hurt, but that is a price to pay.”
Police officers stand in formation during a funeral service. (WFLD)
Talley allegedly shot both officers around 11 a.m. on April 25 at the hospital, where officials said he was taken into custody for a previous armed robbery. While he was being taken to a CT scan, prosecutors said he had a gun underneath his blanket, which he pulled out and then shot both officers.
He was wanted after allegedly robbing a Family Dollar store and pistol-whipping a female employee, taking her wallet and keys.
Talley was charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated unlawful restraint, armed robbery, aggravated discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated battery of a peace officer, aggravated battery, escape and unlawful use of a weapon.
