Two charged with robbing, shooting off-duty Oak Park police officer

Two teens have been charged with the armed robbery and shooting of an off-duty Oak Park police officer early Sunday on the Far South Side.

The officer, 57, was at his garage in the 300 block of West 103rd Place getting ready to go to work at 5:13 a.m. when 18-year-old Taiwan McNeal and a 17-year-old David Bush approached him and one of them produced a handgun, according to Chicago Police.

The unarmed robber began to search the officer, at which point the officer drew his weapon and exchanged gunfire with the armed suspect, police said. The officer was shot in the forearm and lower leg and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where his condition was stabilized.

Responding officers found the suspects in a gangway a few blocks away in the 9900 block of South Princeton, police said. Bush had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said.

Both were taken into custody, and Bush was transported to Christ Medical Center for treatment while McNeal was taken to the Area South police headquarters for processing.

McNeal, of the 10000 block of South La Salle, and Bush, whose home address was not immediately available, were each charged with felony counts of attempted robbery armed with a firearm, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm, police said.

Bush was ordered held without bond Monday, and is next scheduled to appear in court May 26, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

Tuesday, McNeal was also ordered held without bond, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office website. He is also scheduled to appear in court May 26.