Chicago Police say a crime committed in front of an off-duty officer led to a shootout between the officer and a gunman.
The off-duty officer said he saw shots fired from inside a car around 10:15 p.m. Sunday in the 300 block of South Leavitt. A man was struck, but his condition is unknown. The officer followed the car with four men inside until the car stopped at a traffic light at Van Buren and Oakley.
A state trooper also was at the light making a traffic stop, so with backup nearby, the off-duty officer got out of his vehicle and approached the car, police. That's when he saw a gun, a police union spokesman said.
“One of the offenders in the back seat raises a .45 at the officer," FOP spokesman Pat Camden said. "At this point [the officer] opens fire, the car takes off, the state trooper follows the car.”
The suspect's car then stopped in the 300 block of South Maplewood where three of the suspects took off. The fourth suspect, who was shot and injured by the officer, was found bleeding in a nearby alley and was taken to Stroger Hospital.
As for the victim the officer saw get shot in the car, there is no information about his condition. Camden says he was just an innocent bystander, but police say the shooting is under investigation.
