VIDEO: 66-yo. man exchanges gunfire while trying to stop theft in Pilsen as he was walking his dog, witnesses say

CHICAGO — A 66-year-old man walking his dog in Pilsen on Tuesday morning saw two people trying to break into or steal a car, tried to stop them, and was then shot during an exchange of gunfire, according to Chicago police and witnesses.

WGN News obtained footage from one witness who saw everything from their window and took video of the incident (see attached video player).

Police say the man was outside in the 1100 block of West Cullerton Street just before 6 a.m. Tuesday when he saw two unknown offenders near a parked vehicle, then a verbal altercation ensued. Witnesses say the offenders were stealing cars.

Police say that after the offenders displayed a firearm, shots were fired between them and the 66-year-old man, who has a valid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card and Concealed Carry License (CCL), according to police. More than 30 shots were fired during the incident.

The man was shot in the upper right leg and taken to an area hospital, where police say he was listed in good condition.

The offenders, meanwhile, got into a waiting Lexus sedan and fled the scene, according to police. No other injuries have been reported.

In the witness video, you can see two suspects taking cover behind a car and continuing to fire back at the 66-year-old man. The witness who took the video says several neighbors came out to help the man before paramedics arrived and got him into the back of an ambulance.

Witnesses say the man was walking his dog when the shots were fired, and neighbors say they believe someone in the neighborhood is currently taking care of the man’s dog.

Nobody is yet in custody, police say, and Area Three detectives are investigating the incident.