Off-duty Chicago Police officer fires shots at carjacking suspect

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CHICAGO (STMW) - An off-duty Chicago Police officer fired shots at an armed suspect who stole his car Wednesday morning in the Southwest Side Ashburn neighborhood.

Two suspects stole a vehicle near 83rd Place and California about 7:15 a.m., according to police. The owner was warming up the car when it was taken.

About 15 minutes later, the off-duty officer was warming up his car in the 8000 block of South Fairfield when someone jumped inside, police said.

The officer announced that he was a police officer, then saw that the suspect had a weapon and opened fire, but no one was hit, police said.

The carjacker took off in the officer’s car, which was later recovered, along with the other stolen vehicle, in the 8th District on Wednesday afternoon. The vehicles are being processed for evidence.

“Everybody wants to warm up their cars, but the reality is if you leave your car running you’re inviting someone to take it,” Area Central Cmdr. Kevin Ryan said.

The Independent Police Review Authority is investigating the shooting.