CHICAGO -- The FBI sent an intelligence alert to Chicago-area law enforcement agencies warning that gangs have formed a pack to target officers.
The "situational information report" from FBI officials in Chicago dated August 26, 2020 warns that nearly three dozen street gangs have formed a pact to "shoot on-sight any cop that has a weapon drawn on any subject in public," according to WLS-TV.
The FBI alert, headlined "Pact Made by People Nation Gang Factions to 'Shoot On-Site' Any Police Officer with a Weapon Drawn" lists street gangs that have become well-known, including the Latin Kings and Vice Lords, El Rukns and Black P Stones.
The report states: "members of these gang factions have been actively searching for, and filming, police officers in performance of their official duties. The purpose of which is to catch on film an officer drawing his/her weapon on any subject and the subsequent 'shoot on-sight' of said officer, in order to garner national media attention."
Alerts based on police intelligence are often distributed to law enforcement agencies, especially when they involve threats to officers.
Chicago police officials said they are aware of the gang threat and take any threats against officer safety seriously and say they will take all necessary measures to protect officers.
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown told the news station that there is an overall "sense of lawlessness" currently being dealt with by police on the streets.
"I think it's bigger than a suggestion," he said. "I think 51 officers being shot at or shot in one year, I think that quadruples any previous year in Chicago's history. So I think it's more than a suggestion that people are seeking to do harm to cops."
