Chicago police are investigating after an off-duty police officer exchanged gunfire with an unknown individual on the city’s Forest Glen neighborhood Sunday morning.
During the incident, the individual fired a shot at the off-duty officer. The officer then returned fire, striking the suspect in the hip.
That suspect was brought to St. Bernard Hospital, and was later transferred to Stroger. During an investigation into the incident, it was determined that the suspect was the one shot by the officer.
The shooting occurred early Sunday after police received reports of an exchange of gunfire between an assailant and an off-duty officer in the 5200 block of North Lawler.
Police say that the officer was heading into work when he noticed several individuals "acting suspiciously" near vehicles in the neighborhood. The officer, believing the individuals were attempting to steal a catalytic converter from a vehicle, stopped the duo and identified himself as a police officer.
According to officials, one of the individuals pulled out a gun and fired a single shot at the officer. The officer returned fire, and the individuals fled the scene in a vehicle.
One of the suspects was dropped off at St. Bernard with a hip injury, according to new information released by police.
Chicago Police Interim Superintendent Charlie Beck said the officer involved in the incident serves as a bicycle officer in the 19th District, and lives in the neighborhood where the shooting took place. He was not hit during the exchange of gunfire.
The officer will be placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days, and the shooting will be investigated by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.
Local
This is the second incident involving an off-duty Chicago police officer this weekend. On Friday night at approximately 8 p.m., a 41-year-old man and an off-duty police officer were in a vehicle in the 5100 block of South Washtenaw when a person in a black vehicle began firing at the pair.
The 41-year-old man suffered a graze wound to his calf, while the off-duty officer returned fire at the suspect. It is unclear if the suspect was hit during the shooting, and police are continuing to investigate the incident.
