One off-duty Chicago Police officer was shot and another was robbed of his gun and badge over the weekend, a reminder that cops off the clock are not immune to gun violence.
In one incident that is baffling investigators, a Chicago cop who’d just finished an overnight shift was driving in the Bridgeport neighborhood early Sunday when someone in another car opened fire, grazing the officer in the arm.
A vehicle sped up behind the officer’s car about 5 a.m. as he drove west on 31st Street near Loomis Street, prompting the officer to slow down to let the other car pass.
The other vehicle pulled alongside the officer’s car and someone inside pointed a gun in his direction and fired shots, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.
The officer, who suffered a graze wound to the upper arm, returned fire. But the other vehicle sped away.
The officer was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and released Sunday morning, Guglielmi said.
The motive for the shooting was not clear. Police were looking into whether it may have been a case of mistaken identity, he said.
“Theres no evidence at this time that he was targeted, however there’s no evidence that he was not targeted either,” he said.
He said police had information about the vehicle, but he would not provide any details.
It was not known whether anyone was struck when the officer discharged his firearm.
Guglielmi said detectives were canvassing the area for video.
Police ask that if anyone was in the area of 31st Street and Loomis between 4:45 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., please contact Area Central.
In a separate incident that took place in the Lake View neighborhood Saturday night, three gunmen robbed an off-duty cop of personal belongings, including his gun and badge, Guglielmi said.
The officer was with a companion when the robbery took place about 9:25 p.m. in the 3100 block of North Ravenswood.
The gunmen made off with the officer’s gun as well as both victims’ wallets, Guglielmi confirmed.
The robbers, who discarded the badge nearby, escaped in a dark-colored SUV.
