Holly MatkinChicago, IL – An unidentified gunman stalked an off-duty Chicago police officer as he was on his way home from the Sixth District police station and opened fire on him on Tuesday night, police said.
The three-year veteran-of-the-force said he was driving his personal Jeep Grand Cherokee home from work just before 10 p.m., when he noticed a gray Dodge Caravan following him, WBBM reported.
He was approximately a half-mile away from the station at the time.
As the off-duty officer approached the 8100-block of South Washtenaw Avenue, a male driver jumped out of the gray van that was tailing him, and began shooting at the officer’s vehicle, WLS reported.
A nearby resident – who also happened to be a retired police officer – said he heard a barrage of “at least 12” gunshots in rapid succession, WBBM reported.
“It sounded like an automatic,” the retired officer said. “The first thing I did was duck away from the window. I did hit the floor.”
The gunman jumped back into his van and sped away, leaving the off-duty officer sitting inside his bullet-riddled jeep.
The retired officer said he peeked out the window just in time to see the shooter fleeing from the scene.
“I just seen the taillights,” he told WBBM.
The off-duty officer was not injured in the attack and did not return fire, police said.
After nearly being assassinated, the officer was able to limp his Jeep another half mile before he came to a stop, possibly due to a flat tire, WBBM reported.
The retired officer who heard the attack said he spotted at least 13 shell casing placards outside his home after the attack.
Police have not made any arrests in connection with the targeted shooting.
Chicago Police Department’s Area Central detectives are handling the ongoing investigation into the incident, WLS reported.