Bio & Incident Details
Age: 30
Tour: 3 years, 7 months
Badge # 6181
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 5/19/2010
Weapon: Handgun
Suspect: Shot and killed
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Officer Thomas Wortham was shot and killed after identifying himself as a police officer when four subjects attempted to rob him while he was off duty at 11:25 pm.
Officer Wortham was visiting his parents' home to show them pictures from the previous week's Police Week activities that he attended in Washington. As he was leaving, four men approached and attempted to rob him of his motorcycle. Officer Wortham drew his service weapon and fired at the suspects, but was fatally shot in the abdomen. He was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
His father, a retired Chicago police sergeant, witnessed the shooting and exchanged shots with the suspects. One was killed, another was seriously wounded while the two remaining males fled in a vehicle. All three suspects have been charged with first-degree murder.
Officer Wortham had served with the Chicago Police Department for nearly three years and was assigned to the Englewood District. He had previously served with the Evergreen Park Police Department for eight months and had recently returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq while serving with the Wisconsin Army National Guard. Officer Wortham was survived by his sister and parents.
