Authorities reported that a robbery attempt on Tuesday morning resulted in a shootout involving an off-duty Chicago police officer on the South Side.
At 5:34 a.m. in the Morgan Park neighborhood, specifically in the 10800-block of Campbell Avenue, the shooting incident occurred. The incident took place during the early hours of the day, just as the daylight was starting to emerge.
Alderman Matt O’Shea reported that a group of armed suspects blocked an unidentified officer as he was about to get into his car near 109th Street and Campbell to go to work.
During the exchange of gunfire, over twelve shots were discharged.
According to O’Shea, the off-duty police officer, who was also a neighbor and friend, is fortunately unharmed. Nonetheless, he emphasizes that the incident serves as a reminder that no matter where you reside, crime can happen anywhere. Despite living in a very secure neighborhood, he notes that this type of crime is becoming increasingly common.
According to reports, the sound of gunshots rang out in the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to neighbors in the area.
Pat Poynton, a neighbor, expressed her disbelief at the act of people stopping cars and shooting. She stated that she simply could not comprehend such behavior.
Mary Sheridan, who resides in the vicinity, expressed her shock at the loud noise she heard. “It was something I’ve never heard before,” she said. “Perhaps I’ve heard it on TV, like gunfire, but never in real life.”
According to Sheridan, she witnessed the suspect’s car rapidly driving away after the shooting, heading towards the east on 109th.
According to her, it definitely wasn’t a firecracker sound.
Chopper 7 revealed that the suspect’s vehicle, a dark-colored sedan, was discovered on 112th Street, approximately a mile away, with bullet holes visible in it.
According to Chicago police, they have apprehended one person but are currently on the lookout for others involved.
Luckily, there were no reported injuries.
Residents in the neighborhood, which is home to police officers and firefighters, are concerned about the recent exchange of gunfire.
According to O’Shea, the person who was involved in the incident could have been a nurse on their way to the hospital or a teenager going to their summer job.
Sheridan expressed her nervousness about the recent incident. She shared an anecdote of a girl who lived next to her and left for work at the same time every day. The girl was just minding her own business, going to work, when the incident happened. Sheridan lamented that even people who are just going about their daily routine are not safe anymore. She concluded by saying that everyone now needs to be on-guard, which is unfortunate.
Authorities are urging residents to review their surveillance footage for any potential recordings of the perpetrators.
Hours later, the investigators were still present at the scene, diligently carrying out their investigation. In addition, the officer’s car, which had been involved in the incident, was still parked at the location.
According to Jim McAteer, a neighbor, having an off-duty police officer in such a situation can be considered a blessing.
According to O’Shea, he is of the opinion that the group of suspects involved in this particular crime may have also been responsible for several other incidents that occurred overnight in the district.
According to him, the officer who was engaged in the shootout is a 25-year veteran of the Chicago police force whom he knows quite well. This officer is known for being deeply involved in the local community.
O’Shea expressed relief that a law enforcement officer who was trained to handle such situations was present and able to protect himself during the incident. He acknowledged that people are understandably scared and angry in such situations.
COPA, which is short for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, is currently conducting an investigation into the shooting incident.
The involved officer has been assigned to routine administrative duties for a minimum of 30 days.
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