Off-Duty Chicago Cop Shoots Teen In Arm

CHICAGO, IL — An off-duty Chicago police sergeant shot and wounded an 18-year-old man in the arm while the officer was questioning the victim early Sunday in the Morgan Park neighborhood, according to police. The victim was taken to an area hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released, police said in a statement Sunday.

The police-involved shooting happened at around 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, in the 10900 block fo South Hermosa Avenue. According to police, the off-duty officer, who was in his personal vehicle at the time, noticed the teen behaving suspiciously and approached him for questioning.

The teen became "elusive and unresponsive" as the sergeant questioned him, and "the encounter escalated," police said. That's when the officer fired his service weapon, hitting the teen in the arm, according to police. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for the South Side and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

So far, a weapon has not been recovered from scene, police said. Supt. Eddie Johnson said there are still many unanswered questions in the case during a joint press conference Sunday afternoon to discuss the shooting and the death of Capt. James Lavoy, 50, who died after he was found unconscious in his squad car early Sunday on the Bishop Ford Freeway on the Far South Side.

The shooting is now being investigated by the Independent Police Review Authority. The sergeant will be placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days, per department regulations.

Photo via Patch archive

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