Man charged with firing bullet into windshield of firetruck

A man was charged with shooting a bullet through the windshield of a firetruck early Thursday following an argument about a crash in the South Shore neighborhood.

Lavell Morris, 34, faces three felony counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm toward an occupied vehicle, according to Chicago Police.

Chicago Fire Department crews responded at 2:23 a.m. to a two-car crash at the intersection of 79th and Yates, according to Chicago Police.

That’s when an argument broke out between the parties involved, police said.

A man, who was called to the scene by someone involved in the crash, grabbed a handgun from his vehicle and fired shots into a crowd, police said.

One of the rounds damaged the windshield of a responding firetruck. A firefighter suffered a cut to the nose from flying glass.

“This situation is a perfect example of how simple everyday problems like a car accident can quickly escalate into a violent situation that puts all in our community at risk,” Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th) said in a statement. “It’s not just a crime issue. It’s an everyday issue, where residents resort to guns to resolve everyday conflicts.”

Morris was taken into custody, and the handgun recovered, police said.

Mitchell said he was “grateful that this senseless act didn’t result in something more serious.”

“Our first responders risk their lives and physical well being to protect our community, and they do not deserve to be caught in the crossfire of gunshots. This holds true for all of my residents; no one should have to live through these experiences.”

He said being a civil servant “in this day and age is to be perpetually assaulted by the horrors of gun violence,” and though progress has been made, “gun violence remains an issue and will continue to be an issue until we develop strategies to address the underlying culture of violence.”

Bond was set at $250,000 for Morris during a court appearance Saturday, according to Cook County sheriff’s office records. His next court appearance was scheduled for Aug. 3.