Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Gerald L. Wright was shot and killed on his way home from his shift. At about 11:30 p.m., at 934 West 79th Street, Officer Wright stopped into a store to visit the owners. When he went out to talk to a man standing outside the store, shots rang out from across the street in front of 942 W. 79th Street. Two gang members, including one 16-year-old, opened fire in retaliation for a previous shooting in the area. Officer Wright was shot in the back. He was transported to Christ Hospital and Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died during surgery at 3:18 a.m. Saturday morning. The subject was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to 100 years. Another accomplice was sentenced to 55 years. Officer Wright was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for 20 years. He is survived by his son and two daughters. His father had retired from the Chicago Police Department, and Officer Wright wore his badge number.
Survivors
He is survived by his son and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-75AD7736- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Wright gave the Chicago Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Gerald Leo Wright served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Gerald Leo Wright is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Chicago Police Department, 396 of 571 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gerald Leo Wright's cause is highlighted.
How Gerald Leo Wright Compares
Offender Outcome
off duty
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gerald Leo Wright is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gerald Leo Wright was killed by handgun; tech-9.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
