Off-Duty Cop Fires Gun at Alleged Shoplifters Outside Jewel

Police say offenders accelerated car toward officer

Two men are in custody after a confrontation involving an off-duty police officer in the parking lot of a Jewel grocery store in Norwood Park.

Police say shortly after 7 p.m. the officer, who was shopping at the store, was approached by store employees who alerted her to a theft in progress inside the business at the corner of Foster and Harlem avenues.

The employees pointed out two men who left the store with merchandise and were loading a vehicle in the parking lot.

The officer approached the men and identified herself, at which point one of the men accelerated the car toward her, prompting her to fire her weapon, according to police.

"As the car was fleeing the scene, the officer was attempting to stop them, they were heading in her direction, trying to run her down, she fired a shot to stop the vehicle," said witness William Pelarenos, a former police officer.

Nobody was hit or injured in the incident and the men were taken into custody a short time later.

The officer was taken to a local hospital for observation.

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