Off-duty sheriff's deputy shoots man who fired shots in Millennium Park; gunman arrested after hopping on party boat on Chicago River
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An off-duty Cook County Sheriff's deputy shot a man who fired a gun at Millennium Park on Friday night, and then ran to the Chicago River, where he hopped on a party boat trying to escape.
The deputy was working a side job as a security officer at the time of the incident, according to a sheriff's office spokesperson.
The incident started with multiple shots fired in Millennium Park, on the second night since new security rules were put into place, including a restriction prohibiting unaccompanied minors from staying in the park after 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. In addition, extra security is now in place at the park.
Chicago Police said, around 7:20 p.m., a 22-year-old man refused to be wanded at an entrance into Millennium Park on Monroe Street, then jumped a fence.
As security officers approached him, the man turned and fired shots.
An off-duty sheriff's officer returned fire, striking the gunman, who ran into nearby Maggie Daley Park, and then to the Riverwalk near Columbus Drive, where he was taken into custody.
According to unconfirmed police dispatch reports, the gunman hopped onto an "Island Party Boat" before he was arrested.
The Chicago Fire Department said the man was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, with non-life-threatening injuries.
The off-duty sheriff's officer was also taken to a hospital for observation.
The Chicago Police Marine Unit located the weapon in connection to the shooting.
#ChicagoPolice @CPDMarineUnit #scubadivers recovered a weapon from the #ChicagoRiver in relation to the shooting at #MillenniumPark @Chicago_Police #Detectives to continue with the investigation #teamwork pic.twitter.com/zJAPNywB5Y
— Chicago Police Marine Unit (@CPDMarineUnit) May 21, 2022
Charges were pending Friday night.