Off-Duty Chicago Cop Shot At Traffic Light In Fair Condition

CHICAGO — An off-duty Chicago police who was shot in his personal vehicle while waiting at a stop light Monday afternoon is listed in fair condition after undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound to the abdomen, CPD Supt. David Brown said during a late afternoon news conference.

Around 12:20 p.m. Monday, the off-duty cop was stopped at a traffic light in the 8900 block of Stony Island when a vehicle pulled up behind the officer's personal car. According to Brown, two people got out and started firing into the officer's car, hitting him in the lower torso. Shot-spotter alerts notified three officers, who loaded the injured officer into their police vehicle and drove him to the University of Chicago Hospital and Trauma Center.

“This just highlights the dangers,” Brown said. "We need to have real consequences for the offenders. They need to be held accountable."

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The police superintendent said three female officers were who were alerted by shot-spotter were the first to arrive on the scene. He praised their quick actions.

“One of the officers worked with the off-duty officer,” Brown said. “When the family arrived here and learned what happened, just the hugs and tears the mother and grandmother shared with these three heroic women to get him transported as quickly as possible and possibly saved his life, was the most heartwarming thing we heard today.”

The officer’s name is not being released at his family’s request. Brown said no new details of the investigation would be released until later.

“He was alert going to the hospital,” Brown said. “He’s well liked. There has been an outpouring of officers that we had to put a stop on. Officers kept coming and coming. He’s well liked, hardworking. We’re just grateful for this hospital and the doctors and the things they have don to bring him to this point.”

Dr. Susan Rowell, a trauma surgeon at UChicago Medicine, said the officer arrived with a life-threatening gunshot wound and came through an afternoon or surgery.

“He remains stable and is currently doing well,” Dr. Rowell said, describing the officer’s condition as fair.

Detectives are reviewing POD cameras and private surveillance cameras to get a license plate or images of the culprits, the police superintendent said. No new details are being released for the moment. Earlier Monday, Brown said police did not know if the shooting was a carjacking, road rage or a case of mistaken identity.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the police department would “spare no expense” in bringing the suspects to justice.

“That’s what the family expects and certainly what they deserve,” Lightfoot said.

The mayor continued saying the city and police department were considered to officer wellness.

“We’re obviously committed to reform and accountability, but we can’t lose sight of the human being who does this job every day,” the mayor continue. “They see people on their worst day and experience a significant amount of trauma. We’re committed to making sure that we are providing resources for officers and the trauma they face every day.”

On Sunday, a Chicago police officer was shot in the parking lot of the Dist. 6 police station in the Gresham neighborhood. He suffered a graze wound to the chin and was treated and released at Advocate Christ Medical Center.

In 2020, Brown said 79 Chicago police officers were shot at, including 10 officers who were struck by gunfire. So far, in the current year, 14 officers have been shot at, including the two that were hit Sunday and Monday.