Man Charged With Shooting Officer

William T. Wright, 20, is charged with attempted murder

A Chicago police officer continues to recover from a bullet he took in the leg while investigating a separate shooting on the city's far South Side.

Police said the 27-year-old officer was responding to shots fired around 9:15 p.m. Thursday in the Altgeld Gardens neighborhood near 13200 S. Langley Ave. when two officers saw four people hanging out in a parking lot and tried to stop them for an interview.

One person tried to run away, and the officers ran after him. That's when the person turned around, raised a gun and fired six shots, shooting one of the officers in the thigh. The officer was taken to Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

William T. Wright, 20, was later arrested and charged with attempted murder. Officer said he also had an out-of-state warrant for his arrest.

Superintendent Garry McCarthy said the officer is in good spirits but said it was a very traumatic experience for him. The bullet was within inches of a major artery.

"The officer is very lucky," McCarthy said. "He's in great spirits because he's very happy to be alive."

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