Off-duty Chicago Police officer shot in arm on Near West Side
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An off-duty Chicago Police officer was shot and wounded on the Near West Side Wednesday evening.
Interim police Supt. Fred Waller said in a news conference that at 9:16 p.m., the off-duty was traveling in the alley behind the 2200 block of West Maypole Avenue, near Oakley Boulevard.
The officer came upon some garbage cans that were blocking his path, Waller said. The officer moved the garbage cans – and upon going back to the vehicle, about five people came up and shot him, Waller said.
The officer got back into his vehicle and returned fire, and was fired upon again, Waller said.
The officer drove to safety, where officers recovered him, police said. His sport-utility vehicle was found nearby at Leavitt and Walnut streets with what appeared to be a bullet through the windshield.
Waller said the officer was taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County with a graze wound to his arm. At least one weapon was recovered.
Waller said the officer was coming from dinner when he was shot.
He said he had spoken with the officer – who was very emotional and happy he was only grazed in the arm.
"The amount of shell casings that we found out there, it could have been very, very much worse," Waller said.
