Two Arrested After Pointing Gun at Off-Duty Chicago Officer

Nov. 27--Chicago police said they arrested two people after one of them pointed a gun at an off-duty police officer about 4 a.m. today in the River North neighborhood.

The officer was outside a bar near Erie and Orleans Street when he saw two men beating up a third man and began walking up to them to intervene and stop the beating, said Patrick Camden, a spokesman for the Fraternal Order of Police.

As the off-duty officer, who is assigned to the Near North district, began walking up to them, the two men jumped into a nearby vehicle, said Camden.

While the men drove past the officer, the passenger pointed a gun in the officer's direction, which resulted in the officer discharging his weapon, said Camden.

On-duty police showed up and put out an alert on the vehicle, which had fled on the Kennedy Expressway, said Camden. A vehicle matching that description was later stopped by police at Lawrence Avenue and the Kennedy Expressway, said Camden. Police did not chase the vehicle, he said.

The passenger sustained a gunshot wound to his hand and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for his injury, which was considered non-life threatening, Camden said.

Two people were in custody and a weapon was found, said Camden.

The Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates officer-involved shootings, was notified of the shooting but couldn't confirm if an officer discharged a weapon.

Shell casings were visible on Erie Street for a few yards east of Orleans Street.

The officer wasn't hurt, police said.

Police blocked traffic on Erie Street between Orleans Street and Franklin Street into Sunday morning.

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