Third-Generation Chicago Cop Shot In The Back While Off-Duty

Chicago, IL – An off-duty Chicago police officer was shot in the back in a bar in the Beverly neighborhood early on Saturday morning.

The incident began at about 2 a.m. on July 9 at Sean’s Rhino Bar & Grille near 104th Street and Western Avenue, CBS News reported.

Sources told the Chicago Journal that three men and a woman came into the bar at about that time and a fight broke out between then and some customers who were already at the bar.

Off-duty Chicago Police Officer Daniel Golden, 31, was in the bar when the fight occurred but it was unclear whether he was involved in the scuffle or just helped break up the fight.

The bar closed right after the fight at about 2:30 a.m. and kicked everybody out, the Chicago Journal reported.

As customers were leaving, one of the men from the group that came into the bar right before the fight started went out to his vehicle and got a gun.

Then he opened fire on other patrons who were walking home, the Chicago Journal reported.

Officer Golden was shot in the back in the 2400-block of West 104th Street.

He was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in a squad car by responding Chicago police officers, the Chicago Journal reported.

Police said that a bullet struck Officer Golden’s spine and lodged in his chest, CBS News reported.

He was in serious but stable condition in the hospital.

Sources told CBS News that Officer Golden is now paralyzed from the waist down.

Officer Golden is a third-generation police officer who was sworn into the Chicago Police Department with his brother, Chicago Police Officer Michael Golden, at Navy Pier in October of 2016, the Beverly Review reported.

Their great-great grandfather, Chicago Police Lieutenant James F. Day, was killed in the line of duty in 1934.

The Goldens’ grandfather is a retired Chicago police lieutenant and their father is a retired Chicago police detective, according to the Beverly Review.

Their uncle currently serves with them on the Chicago police force.

Officer Golden is also a U.S. Army veteran, the Beverly Review reported.

Part of the incident that left the young officer wounded was captured by neighborhood security cameras, CBS News reported.

The shooting occurred by the offices of Chicago Alderman Matt O’Shea.

“Just another example of how out of control crime is in our city and in our community, which is a very safe community. We don’t see this,” O’Shea said.

The alderman expressed his concern for the wounded officer who was so well-known in the neighborhood, CBS News reported.

“He has a very long and difficult road ahead of him,” O’Shea said.

Police were questioning one person in connection with the shooting but no arrests had been made as of Monday morning, CBS News reported.

The wounded hero’s aunt has set up a GoFundMe to help raise money for Officer Golden’s recovery.