EMT Injured in Illinois Ambulance Shooting

WASHINGTON PARK --Police were searching for three suspects Monday night in the shooting of a Medstar Ambulance worker who was transporting one of two brothers wounded in a shooting.

Police are looking for a late-model, red Grand Am they believe the suspects were in.

The worker, whose name was not released Monday night, was airlifted to St. Louis University Hospital. The two brothers, whose names also were being withheld, were being treated at Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital, where East St. Louis police had secured the perimeter. The ambulance worker was listed to be in serious condition. He was hit in the left arm, and the bullet traveled through and into his chest, Washington Park Police Chief Calvin Hammonds said. No conditions were available on the brothers, who know the shooters, Hammonds said.

Herb Simmons, manager of Medstar Ambulance, said the driver, who is in his early 20s, has been with the company for a couple months.

"We're still trying to piece it all together," Simmons said late Monday night. "The entire Medstar family is praying for the worker and his family. The owners are at the hospital with him and his family at this time.

"I've been doing this a long, long time," he added. "It always hits home because everybody is a tight-knit family. People who are off (duty) volunteer to come in and help out. We are a family, and this is just very tragic. We're grief-stricken."

Illinois State Police were assisting in the investigation.

Police responded to a shooting at the brothers' house about 9 p.m. in the 1300 block of N. 51 Street, Hammonds said.

One of the brothers was transported via ambulance to Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital; a detective met up with the ambulance and escorted it to the hospital. The second ambulance was on its way to the hospital with the other brother, when three suspects ambushed the ambulance on Interstate 64 at the 25th Street exit, Hammonds said. The ambulance was not followed by police because police didn't realize the suspects were hiding, Hammonds said.

Police had located no weapons Monday night. They did not know whether drugs were involved, Hammonds said.

"We have details out combing the area to try and prevent this gun violence and get hoodlums off the street," Hammonds said. "People are coming from other cities trying to hang out in Washington Park We want them to know if they do, they're going to jail."

Republished with permission from Belleville News-Democrat