Off-duty Lyons police officer involved in shootout in Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) — Dozens of officers responded to a shootout that happened during a family reunion in Chicago's Washington Park neighborhood Saturday afternoon, police say. An off-duty Lyons police sergeant was involved, and an innocent bystander was caught in the crossfire along with other incidents that occurred during the investigation.
Chicago police say just after 7 p.m., a male went up to the off-duty officer from the Lyons Village Police Department, and an argument ensued. During the argument, the offender displayed a weapon. The off-duty sergeant announced his office, at which time both individuals fired shots.
The offender self-transported to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds in serious condition. His condition was stabilized.
During the chaos, a 46-year-old woman told police she was in the park when someone drove up to her, pulled out a gun, and fired shots. She was hit in the thigh and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
This all happened in a crowded park during the Labor Day weekend. People still had their grills out as police closed off the streets with crime scene tape yards away.
Troy Gaston, an organizer for Black Lives Matter, told CBS News Chicago that he was on his way to a picnic when he heard about the shooting. He described what he didn't see when he arrived.
"I didn't see celebration, I didn't see excitement. I didn't see people hugging and loving on each other. I saw people shouting all over the place, running, frightened," he said.
Police were conducting their investigation in the middle of a very tense situation, and emotions were still running high hours after the incident.
As Gaston finished his interview with CBS News Chicago, someone threw a chair at him. He then launched it back.
Gaston had just spoken about his concerns for the neighborhood.
A 16-year-old boy was shot multiple times in the same park Friday night. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.
No arrests have been made in either incident.