No bail for man hurt in shootout with off-duty cop on West Side

Jermaine Morris, 34, was shot in the arm by the officer in the 1200 block of South Kedvale Avenue on New Year’s Day, police said.

SHARE No bail for man hurt in shootout with off-duty cop on West Side
Chicago police investigate the scene of a officer involved shooting in an alleyway near the 1300 block of South Kedvale Ave. in the Lawndale neighborhood, Friday, Jan. 1, 2020.

Chicago police investigate Jan. 1, 2020, after an off-duty officer wounded a man in an alley near the 1300 block of South Kedvale Avenue in Lawndale.

Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Bail was denied Sunday for a man wounded in a shootout with an off-duty police officer on New Year’s Day in Lawndale.

Jermaine Morris, who faces an attempted murder charge in that incident, was also charged in another shooting from May in the West Side neighborhood.

In the Friday incident, Morris approached the off-duty cop’s vehicle with a gun while the cop returned home from running errands, Cook County prosecutors said.

The officer watched Morris crash a blue Pontiac in an alley in the 1200 block of South Kedvale Avenue, and then watched Morris approach him with a gun in hand, prosecutors said.

When Morris raised his gun at the officer, the 32-year-old cop grabbed his own gun and exchanged shots with him through the windshield, prosecutors said. Morris allegedly fired shots, but missed the officer.

Morris, 34, was struck in the bicep and ran from the scene, but was arrested less than 10 minutes later after responding officers saw his girlfriend, the registered owner of the car, and her mother helping him into a vehicle, prosecutors said.

He was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in good condition, authorities said.

Two other people also taken into custody were released without charges.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the use of force.

After Morris’ arrest, police identified him as the alleged shooter in an attack that left a 29-year-old man wounded outside a Lawndale convenience store on May 15, prosecutors said.

Surveillance video shows Morris get into an argument with the man over “drug dealing” and “corner enforcement” outside the store in the 3900 block of West Roosevelt Road, prosecutors said. Morris allegedly fired shots at the man as he walked away, prosecutors said. The 29-year-old was struck in the leg and hospitalized in good condition.

Morris was ordered held without bail Sunday on two counts of attempted murder.

He is due back in court Jan. 11.

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