BURBANK— Last week a Chicago Public Schools teacher in Garfield Ridge was murdered. Days later, the alleged killer attacked and shot an Illinois State Police officer in Springfield, leaving the officer critically wounded.

In response, State Senator Mike Porfirio released the following statement regarding the urgency to take action and pass legislation to prevent situations like these from occurring in the future:

“I am devastated by the tragic shooting that occurred in our district, resulting in the loss of a valued public servant and member of our community. The murder of Adrianna Lopez in such a cruel and violent manner is unacceptable. We owe it to Ms. Lopez’s memory to take concrete steps to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.

“Gun violence against women is a repeated pattern that must be addressed. Illinois lawmakers have the responsibility to take action to prevent attacks like this from occurring. I remain committed to working with my colleagues to pass legislation, known as Karina’s Bill, that will prevent further violence and save lives to empower law enforcement to grant more protection to victims of domestic violence.  

“We must reflect on this loss, acknowledge the pain it has caused and unite to prevent further suffering and loss of life. We must remember that violence and abuse have no place in our community. My heartfelt condolences are with Ms. Lopez’s family, her loved ones and the entire CPS community during this unprecedented and difficult time.

“While Officer Chapman-Green was shot several times, he is thankfully expected to recover. I will continue to keep him in my thoughts and I wish for a speedy recovery.”