Chicago police officer, suspect wounded in shootout after Gold Coast burglary attempt

CHICAGO (CBS)-- A Chicago police officer was shot in the leg early Monday while responding to an attempted crash-and-grab burglary in the Gold Coast. A suspect was also critically wounded in a shootout with police.

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), whose ward neighbors where the burglary attempt and ensuing shootout took place, said the attempted crash-and-grab has only escalated the need to install security bollards that would thwart the next crew that tries to do this.

"These are not property crimes. These are violent, dangerous offenses where lives could possibly be lost, and it needs to be taken that seriously," Hopkins said.

Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said officers were responding to an attempted crash-and-grab burglary at the Prada store at the corner of Oak and Rush streets just after 4 a.m., where a group of burglars tried to smash into the store with an SUV.

Responding officers spotted a man with a gun in the first block of West Walton Street. Officers ordered the man to drop his gun, but he did not, leading to an "exchange of gunfire," Snelling said.

A 55-year-old police officer was shot in the leg, and the suspect also was wounded. Other officers applied tourniquets to both the wounded officer and the suspect, who both were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The officer, who has been on the force for 17 years, was released by Monday afternoon and was back home with his family. The wounded suspect was in critical condition, and has not been able to speak to police.

"The preliminary investigation suggests he was only about 7 feet from the offender when gunfire was exchanged," Hopkins said.

Police said two officers fired their weapons. A gun was recovered at the scene that, come daylight, was littered with shell casings.

The wounded suspect was the only person in custody as of Monday afternoon, but police were reviewing footage from several surveillance cameras from stores in the area in an effort to track down the other suspects. Hopkins said at least four apparently stolen vehicles were involved in the heist attempt.

"I'm deeply concerned about it. These crimes do seem to occur in waves," Hopkins said.

Hopkins said the heist attempt happened on the same day he was scheduled to meet about a security bollard project that has been proposed to curb these very crimes. The alderman said there are funds dedicated for security on Oak Street and Michigan Avenue — outside of the Chicago Police Department budget.

While he said he doesn't want to cover the area in concrete jersey walls, Hopkins said local businesses are working with engineers to develop decorative elements that could block cars from crashing into storefronts.

"I'd like to see it happen within the next 3 to 6 months," he said.

Hopkins says many of the stores on Michigan Avenue and the stores on Oak Street are natural candidates for the security bollard project.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the shootout. The officers who were involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative duties for 30 days.