Police: Man shot after charging at police officer on South Side

A suspected armed robber was shot by Chicago Police, who say he charged at an officer in the South Side Canaryville neighborhood, making the officer’s gun discharge.

About 3:15 a.m., officers were flagged down by someone claiming their cellphone was taken by three people at Cermak and State, all of whom fled in a vehicle, police said. The three were found in a vehicle in the 500 block of West 4rd Street some time later.

Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Pat Camden said officers were able to locate the vehicle by tracking the stolen iPhone.

A male in the vehicle got out and showed a handgun in his waistband, police said. He then “charged the officer, hitting him with his body,” causing the officer’s weapon to discharge.

Camden said the suspect elbowed the officer in the chest as he was getting out of the car, causing the officer’s gun to accidentally discharge. The suspect was struck in the arm and chest.

The armed suspect, who had been shot, dropped his weapon and ran off, police said. A weapon was later recovered at the scene.

The two others in the vehicle were arrested without incident.

The male who was shot was later found at Mercy Hospital with a gunshot wound and is in “guarded” condition. He remains in police custody after being transferred to Stroger Hospital, Camden said.

Charges were pending against all three Friday morning, police said. No officers were hurt.

The Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates all police-involved shootings, was notified of the incident at 3:45 a.m., spokesman Larry Merritt said.