Police Officer Fires At Burglary Suspect In Hyde Park, Suspect Escapes
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An off-duty Chicago police officer fired his weapon at a burglary suspect in Hyde Park Wednesday afternoon, but the suspect got away.
At the scene, Police News Affairs Sgt. Rocco Alioto said around 12:30 p.m., the officer identified himself, and declared himself on duty, to intervene in a burglary in progress in the 5100 block of South Ingleside Avenue, near Hyde Park Boulevard. The officer lives on the block and the burglary was at a neighbor's home, police said.
During the encounter, the officer fired his gun, but the suspect escaped, Alioto said.
It was not known whether the suspect was injured by the officer's gunshot. There was no gun recovered at the scene, and it was not known if the suspect was armed, Alioto said.
As CBS 2's Megan Hickey reported, several witnesses reported they heard gunshots coming from one of the high-density residential buildings on the block.
"I saw postal carriers running toward me, and I yelled to them, 'What do you think's going on?' and they said, 'Someone just got shot,' and I said, like, 'Who?' and they said, 'A policeman shot someone trying to break into a house in the middle of the block,'" said witness Anna Gigliotti.
The suspect was described as a black male between the ages of 25 and 30, standing about 6 feet 3 inches tall with a slender build and short black hair. He was wearing a gray T-shirt and black sweat pants with a white stripe down both sides.
Police said the Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the incident. As per routine, the officer will be placed on administrative duties for 30 days pending the investigation.
The officer is a 19-year veteran of the force and is 46 years old.
Anyone with information was asked to call Area Central Detectives at (312) 747-8380.