Wounded Oak Forest Officer Returns Home, Residents Donate Meals

OAK FOREST, IL — An Oak Forest police officer who was injured during a fatal shoot-out earlier this month has returned home, according to friends of the officer's family.

Now, residents are attempting to put together meal donations for the man, who had been in the hospital since the April 3 shooting at Food 4 Less that took the life of 21-year-old Ketura Wilson.

According to officials, Wilson ran from officers while they attempted to check on her after receiving a call of a driver in need of help. After following her into the grocery store, police said the woman shot at officers, striking and seriously wounding one. Wilson was killed as officers returned fire.

Meal donations for the wounded officer were set up by a family friend to help the officer and his wife focus on his recovery.

"I have offered our help, and they have accepted," Britany Banasiak said to a group of Oak Forest residents Monday. "Let's make this as easy as possible for him and his wife. Please consider donating a meal on a day of your choice."

The donations will come through a website called Meal Train, which allows people to sign up to bake or buy food on a specific date of their choice. Those who volunteer are asked to bring the food to Banasiak's home by 5 p.m. that day so she can deliver it to the officer.

Neither Banasiak nor the Oak Forest Police Department have released the officer's name in the interest of privacy. As of Wednesday, residents had signed up to donate two full weeks of dinners through the Meal Train.

In addition to food, residents can donate cash to the family through a collections jar at Nicky V's Dogs or donate gift cards through the Meal Train website.

Banasiak is still in search of volunteers to buy or bake dinner for the officer and his wife on dates ranging from May 6 - 13.