Police Shoot Man Who Claims To Have Gun
(STMW) -- A man who said he had a gun was shot and critically wounded by police officers Friday morning in the Rogers Park neighborhood on the North Side.
The man was shot at 11:25 a.m. in the 1500 block of West Birchwood Avenue, Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said.
Tactical officers walked up to the 45-year-old man as he was drinking near the intersection of North Greenview Avenue and Howard Street, according to a police statement and Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Pat Camden.
The man ran away from the officers, darting through an apartment complex and breaking into a unit before leading officers into a backyard gangway area, police said.
The man yelled: "I have a gun, you'll have to shoot me," and reached into his waistband while turning toward the officers, police said.
At least two officers shot the man, who was taken in serious-to-critical condition to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, according to police and fire officials.
The 45-year-old was not carrying a weapon, and he thanked officers as he was carted into an ambulance, Camden said.
The Independent Police Review Authority is investigating the shooting, spokesman Larry Merritt said.
Earlier Friday, police shot a 23-year-old man who opened fire on officers during a foot chase in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood about 4:15 a.m., authorities said. He was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in serious condition.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
