Chicago police say an officer opened fire on a gunman who had shot and seriously wounded a man driving on the West Side Friday morning but apparently did not hit the attacker.
The details, released by officials on the scene, were at least the third version of what happened around 11:45 a.m. in the 1500 block of North Laramie Avenue. Initially, a department spokesman said police returned fire after being shot at, then said officers had only witnessed someone getting shot and did not fire their guns.
Chief of Patrol Brian McDermott told reporters that community safety team officers saw a gunman fire several rounds at a southbound car, striking the 27-year-old man who was driving. The car crashed at LeMoyne Street and Laramie.
The officers identified themselves and one of them fired three rounds at the gunman. “In the defense of the life of the victim, one of the officers involved discharged his weapon,” McDermott said.
The gunman fled west on LeMoyne Street and was still at large. Police do not believe he was hit by the officer’s fire.
The driver suffered several wounds to the head and was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.
Check back for updates.