Off-duty Chicago police officer exchanged gunfire with car thief at gas station

An off-duty Chicago police officer exchanged gunfire with a man who stole his car from a service station on the Near West Side overnight, officials said.

The officer was outside his Jeep Cherokee at the service station in the 1500 block of West Roosevelt when the offender jumped behind the wheel and drove away around 2:05 a.m.

The shots were fired after a thief stole the off-duty officer’s car from this service station at Roosevelt and Ashland, according to a CPD report. | Google

Chicago police said the thief slammed the stolen Jeep into a fire hydrant, then got out and exchanged gunfire with the off-duty cop. No one was struck by the gunfire.

Responding CPD officers saw the suspect running from the scene and took him into custody near Throop and Fillmore moments after the incident. A CPD spokesperson said officers recovered a firearm from the suspect.

Charges are pending.

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