CPD: Officer’s gun goes off accidentally, nobody hit, on West Side following vehicle pursuit

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer accidentally discharged a firearm, but nobody was hit, while placing offenders in custody following a foot chase early Thursday morning on the city’s West Side, according to the Chicago Police Department.

The incident happened in the area of West Monroe Street and South Cicero Avenue, in the Austin neighborhood, after Illinois State Police had initially pursued a vehicle wanted in connected to an armed robbery.

According to ISP, troopers located a red Dodge Charger that was possibly connected to a recent armed robbery in Chicago and attempted a traffic stop around 3 a.m. Thursday on I-94 northbound at 63rd Street. When the vehicle failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated that went onto I-290 westbound before continuing onto city streets.

According to Chicago police, the vehicle crashed, then three armed robbery suspects fled on foot. After a brief foot chase, officers placed the offenders in custody in the 4800 block of W. Monroe St., which is when an officer accidentally discharged their firearm.

Surveillance cameras posted on a nearby business captured some of the scene just after 3 a.m. Thursday (see video attached to story).

Police say two of the offenders and an officer were taken to area hospitals for observation, and a weapon was recovered at the scene. ISP, meanwhile, said none of its officers were injured.

The three people arrested have not yet been charged.

Just after 4:30 a.m. Thursday, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) announced on its X feed that it was responding to an officer-involved shooting near 200 S. Cicero Ave. A heavy police presence remained in the area Thursday morning as the investigation continued, with Cicero Ave. closed from West Madison Street to West Jackson Boulevard.

Police say the incident remains under investigation by COPA, since an officer’s gun went off, as well as the Investigative Response Team.