Detective Recounts Being Caught In The Crossfire
(CBS) – A Chicago Police detective was one of two officers hurt during a shootout earlier this week in Englewood.
The injured officer talked exclusively with CBS 2's Mai Martinez.
Detective Chris Ross says it could have been a lot worse. He's talking about Tuesday's standoff between law enforcement and 42-year-old Indiana fugitive Daniel Brown.
Ross was hit by a bullet fragment, but didn't realize it until the following day, after he saw a welt on his thigh.
His wife convinced him to go to the hospital, and that's where an X-ray showed the fragment.
"With adrenaline, it's amazing what you don't feel, I guess, because I never felt anything hitting me," Ross says.
He says his wound is nothing compared to those of Capt. Ed Kulbida, who was shot twice during the standoff.
"As soon as we made contact at the door, shots rang out," Ross says.
The detective said he, Kulbida and about 10 other officers were pinned in a vestibule. They quickly radioed dispatch to warn others.
Brown reached out and fired two shots. One hit Kulbida in the shoulder, the other in head.
"We could see blood in his head," Ross says.
As U.S. marshals tended to the captain's wounds, the other officers provided cover.
Chicago police say 39 shots were fired: 20 by its officers, eight by U.S. marshals and 11 by Brown.
Ross says despite their own fears, the team knew they had to get Kulbida to safety before it was too late. They decided to go through the apartment adjacent to the one were Brown was holed up.
Kulbida was in pain but could walk.
"He got behind us and put an arm on either one of our shoulders," Ross says.
He says Brown once again opened fire on them. Ross and another officer shot back and the team was able to rush Kulbida through the neighboring apartment and out the back door.
Ross says he felt like the cavalry had arrived when he saw all the police officers outside. His biggest sense of relief came when they found out Capt. Kulbida would be OK.
While he was pinned down and thinking he might not make it out alive, Ross texted his wife to tell her he loved her.