Retired Chicago police sergeant hurt in North Side shooting, sources say
CHICAGO (CBS) — A retired Chicago police sergeant was critically wounded Monday morning after he was shot multiple times while getting out of his car on the city's North Side.
It happened just before 9 a.m. in the 2000 block of West Berteau Avenue, right off the diagonal Lincoln Avenue in North Center.
Police officers were seen taking in a suspect hours after that shooting took place. That suspect had been hiding inside a local business the entire time.
Police said a 74-year-old man was getting out of his Jeep Cherokee when two people began to open fire in his direction.
Ald. Matt Martin (47th) said there was some sort of verbal argument between the victim and the suspects before the shooting. The alderman said police do not believe the shooting was the result of an attempted robbery or carjacking.
The victim, who sources said is a retired Chicago police sergeant who lives in the neighborhood, was struck twice in his left arm and suffered a graze wound to the neck.
He was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition. By Tuesday morning, his condition had been upgraded to serious.
"We hope he pulls through, but police were able to respond very quickly and establish a SWAT perimeter," Martin said.
After securing the scene, officers in tactical gear moved in, conducting sweeps in several businesses in the area while they searched for the offenders.
More than three hours later, officers zeroed in on a psychic shop along Lincoln Avenue and made an arrest.
"My door is two feet away. They could've just as easily entered my shop," said Walter Johns, who has owned that psychic shop with his daughter for over 15 years. "They apprehended him here in my [gangway]."
Surveillance video at Gary Kinsler's auto body shop caught two people walking toward the scene of the crime just before the shooting, and running away immediately after.
Kinsler echoed his neighbors in their hopes for justice.
"This officer, who was retired and served this city, and then when we need to protect him, we failed," he said.
Martin, who has an office in the area, was bombarded with several calls from concerned residents after Monday morning's shooting.
"People are afraid it's the worst thing that can happen to any community, especially at a time of day when people are out and about… they want more information… they want to know what happened," he said.
At least one person was taken into custody and then released as of Wednesday morning. Police said they're searching for a second suspect.
Charges are pending.