Police: 16-year-old boy who tried to rob man in Oak Park shot to death

A teenage boy was shot to death when he allegedly tried to rob a 24-year-old man Saturday in west suburban Oak Park, police said.

Damon Phillips, 16, allegedly tried to rob the man about 11:15 a.m. in a bank parking lot near Madison Street and Austin Boulevard, according to Oak Park police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The man was legally armed and exchanged gunfire with the boy, police said. The boy got into a waiting vehicle and drove off into Chicago.

Phillips was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:47 p.m., the medical examiner’s office said. His home address was not known. An autopsy Sunday found he died of gunshot wounds to the chest, and his death was ruled a homicide.

An off-duty Chicago police officer who was nearby detained the man, who was questioned by investigators, police said. He has a valid Illinois conceal-carry permit.

The shooter is considered the victim, said David Powers, spokesman for the village of Oak Park. The investigation is still ongoing as of Tuesday morning.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact police at (708) 386-3800. Anonymous tips can be left at (708) 434-1636 or oak-park.us/crimetip.