Chicago police officer involved in Little Village shooting; man critically wounded

CHICAGO - A Chicago police officer shot and critically wounded a man during a foot chase Monday morning in Little Village, just steps from an elementary school.

Chicago police said officers in an unmarked squad car attempted to "conduct an investigatory stop" on a group of people near a double-parked car in the 2100 block of South St. Louis Avenue around 11:35 a.m. when one of the individuals fled the scene "while in possession of a firearm."

Officers chased the man into a vacant lot and one of them opened fired, striking the suspect in the upper body, according to officials.

Police said officers immediately rendered aid before the man was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition. Chicago Fire Department officials said he was in his 20s.

A weapon was recovered at the scene, but it was unclear if shots were fired at officers.

No officers were hurt, but one was transported to Rush University Medical Center for observation, police said. Those involved in the shooting are being placed on routine administrative duties for at least 30 days pursuant to department policy.

The shooting happened so close to Crown Community Academy of Fine Arts that members of the administration "heard shots fired in the vicinity of the school," principal Zarree Walker wrote to parents later Monday.

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"We immediately brought all students and staff inside the school building and contacted the [Chicago Public Schools’] Office of Safety and Security, who in turn contacted the Chicago Police Department," Walker said. "CPD informed us that the area was secure and there was no longer a safety threat.

"The incident was not directly related to our school, and everyone is safe."

After-school security was bolstered "out of an abundance of caution," with both police and CPS security remaining "on-site to provide support," Walker said. She urged parents to contact the school for help if a student "voices any concerns or fears about the incident."

It took police officials more than four hours to issue a statement on the shooting, and they didn’t hold a news conference to take questions from the media.

Last week, it took more than seven hours for the department to comment on a fatal police shooting near an Irving Park bar that also happened during a foot pursuit. Police Supt. David Brown initially said a man had been killed during "an apparent exchange of gunfire" with officers.

The following day, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability said it was "unclear … if the individual discharged his weapon at police."

COPA said it was responding to Monday’s shooting shortly after it happened. Anyone with information about the shooting should call the oversight agency at (312) 746-3609.

Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.