Illinois State Police: Man Shot, Killed by Weapon Inside Vehicle as He Tried to Flee Traffic Stop

Illinois State Police believe a man was shot and killed by a weapon inside of a vehicle as he attempted to flee a traffic stop early Wednesday morning in suburban Harvey.

According to a press release, troopers conducted a traffic stop near 147^th Street and Halsted Avenue in Harvey at approximately 12:28 a.m. Wednesday after observing a vehicle with no working headlights.

At the request of troopers, the driver of the car, a 21-year-old woman, stepped out of the vehicle for further investigation. At that point, the front seat passenger of the vehicle, identified as 30-year-old Harvey resident Darren Green Jr., allegedly moved into the driver’s seat, police said.

One of the troopers then yelled that he had spotted a gun, and a brief struggle began over the weapon. As the trooper was trying to grab the gun, Green allegedly began to drive the vehicle forward, dragging both troopers alongside the vehicle.

The vehicle then hit a bus shelter, and when it did, the firearm inside the vehicle discharged, and Green was hit by a gunshot, police said.

He was taken to an area hospital, and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Neither trooper was hit by gunfire, and neither trooper discharged their service weapon, authorities say. Both were treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and were released.