Off-Duty Police Officer Wounded Exchanging Shots With Robbers Who Said 'Shoot Him'
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An off-duty Chicago police officer was wounded in an exchange of gunfire early Monday in the Washington Heights neighborhood, after a would-be robber told an accomplice to "shoot him."
Interim Police Supt. John Escalante said two men approached an off-duty officer who had just parked his car on the 10100 block of South Green Street around 2:20 a.m.
Escalante said the officer was outside his car when the two men walked up – one on either side of the car – and announced a robbery.
"He started to comply with their demands, as far as a robbery, and then became concerned when he heard one of them say 'shoot him.' So at that point he was able to successfully draw his own weapon, and exchange shots," he said.
Sources say it was when the two men started patting the officer down, that he stepped back and fired a few rounds at them. One of the men returned fire, hitting the officer in the leg.
Erik Clark said he heard at least 13 shots ring out, during the exchange.
"He at least called for help at least two or three times, 'someone help me, someone help me' and for the life of me I wish I could have accessed my courage, but you know the fear was definitely there instead of the courage," Clark said.
Escalante said the 49-year-old officer believes he hit the robber who fired shots at him. It was not immediately clear if both robbers were armed, but at least one of them did fire shots at the officer.
The suspects fled on foot, and the officer was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was in good condition. Escalante said the officer has a bullet lodged in his right leg, but will be okay.
"He's in good spirits. He realized how close he was, and it could have been much worse. I want to thank the Chicago Fire Department paramedics for getting him here quickly," he said outside the Christ Medical Center emergency room.
A short time after the robbery attempt, a man showed up at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park to be treated for a gunshot wound. Police say that they are talking to a person of interest at the hospital.
Area South detectives were investigating.
The officer, who is assigned to the Gang Enforcement Section, will be placed on administrative duty for at least 30 days while the Independent Police Review Authority investigates.
Kennerd Cooper says he's known the officer and his family, for more than 40 years.
"Somebody would jump in front of a bullet for him before we'd let something happen to him," Cooper said.
Cooper said the officer has done everything from buy equipment for youth sports teams to recently paying for a homeless person to stay in a local motel.