A Chicago police officer was relieved of police powers in connection with an exchange of gunfire involving off-duty officers last weekend on the city’s West Side.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability on Wednesday provided additional details about the shooting Saturday in the Austin neighborhood.
A vehicle containing five people, including two off-duty Chicago police officers, was stopped in the 1000 block of South Mayfield Avenue around 1:30 a.m. when an unknown man exited his vehicle and “exchanged gunfire” with occupants of the vehicle with the officers, according to COPA.
A 26-year-old man in the car with the officers was wounded in the exchange and taken to a local hospital, where he was listed in serious condition.
The Police Department later notified COPA that one of the off-duty officers fired a gun during the incident, according to COPA. That officer has since been relieved of police powers as the investigation continues.
Authorities have not said what they believe sparked the shooting. Police did not respond to questions about the incident.
No one was in custody as of Wednesday. Portions of the incident were captured on third-party cameras. Additional material in COPA’s investigation is expected to be released within 60 days, in accordance with the city’s video release policy, unless prohibited by court order.
