Retired Chicago police officer shot several times trying to stop robbery at South Side currency exchange

CHICAGO - A retired Chicago police officer was shot six times after he confronted a robber at an Englewood currency exchange Thursday morning, according police and fire officials.

The retired officer, 60, was shot around 7:30 a.m. near 71st Street and Wentworth Avenue, according to a preliminary police report.

He was shot twice in the left thigh, once in the right thigh and three times in the abdomen, the report said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, fire officials said, but police later said he was in serious condition.

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The shooting happened as a woman was opening the currency exchange, the police report stated. A robber walked up to the woman and the retired officer approached and identified himself as working security, the report said.

A gray Dodge Durango then pulled up and shots were exchanged, according to the report. The robber jumped into the SUV and it sped off.  It was not known if anyone in the SUV was hit.

No one was reported in custody.

Area 1 Deputy Chief Fred Melean called the retired officer’s actions "heroic" and said he likely saved the life of the currency exchange worker.

"The officer’s actions were heroic. Even as a retired officer, he did his best, he did his job and he saved that person’s life," said Chicago Police Deputy Chief Fred Melean. "You’re talking, when someone’s trying to rob you, armed with a handgun, multiple shots, definitely that person’s life was saved."

Two weeks ago, a retired Chicago police officer was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with carjackers outside his Lawndale home. A 17-year-old boy who fired a rifle in the exchange was also wounded, according to prosecutors.