A 31-year-old off-duty Cook County sheriff's deputy, Rafael D. Wordlaw, lost his life in the early hours of Tuesday morning when he was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery. The incident took place at a Woodlawn gas station, where Wordlaw was confronted by a 32-year-old Chicago man, Cordarrow Thompson.

Thompson, who has a lengthy criminal background, now faces multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, attempted armed robbery, aggravated battery, and being an armed habitual criminal. The announcement of the charges was made by officials during a news conference held at Public Safety Headquarters.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling expressed the determination to bring Wordlaw's killer to justice, stating, "We honor Deputy Wordlaw by bringing his killer to justice. We want to make sure this individual can't destroy another life or lives." Snelling emphasized the impact of even a single life lost, as it ripples through the lives of everyone connected to that individual.

The news conference was attended by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, and other officials who joined in announcing the charges against Thompson. Superintendent Snelling described the shooting as senseless and frustrating, mentioning that Wordlaw was just days away from celebrating his 32nd birthday.

Wordlaw was remembered as a dedicated family man and a passionate professional who went above and beyond to help others. Raised by an aunt, he attended Urban Prep Academy and earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana State University. Wordlaw joined the Cook County Jail in February 2020 as a corrections officer.

Sheriff Dart revealed that Wordlaw had aspirations of following in his father's footsteps, who was known as "Officer Friendly" in the neighborhood. Dart expressed his anger over the prevalence of firearms and the need to address the issue as a society, stating, "It is something that we as a society, not just Chicago but this country, must come to terms with."

The incident occurred at approximately 1:25 a.m. on Tuesday when Wordlaw was sitting in a red Chevrolet Camaro at a gas station on East 67th Street. Thompson, who had been circling the station in a vehicle, approached Wordlaw with two guns in an attempted robbery. Both individuals exchanged gunfire, with Thompson firing 69 rounds at Wordlaw.

Despite being shot in the chest, Wordlaw attempted to flee the scene but crashed into a pole a few blocks away. His friend, who was present at the gas station, sustained a foot graze. Thompson was captured on video falling to the ground while still shooting before limping away from the scene.

Wordlaw was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center but was pronounced dead at 1:51 a.m. Thompson, who suffered a gunshot wound to his leg, was eventually arrested after seeking medical attention at two different hospitals. One of Thompson's weapons is believed to have been modified to fire automatically.

As authorities work to bring justice for Wordlaw's tragic death, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx highlighted Wordlaw's commitment to making people feel safe. In his final moments, he displayed bravery by attempting to protect a friend during the shooting.

The loss of Deputy Rafael D. Wordlaw serves as a somber reminder of the ongoing challenges facing law enforcement officers and the need to address the pervasive issue of gun violence in our communities.