Officer shot man trying to pick up discarded weapon in Washington Park, oversight agency says

Chicago police oversight officials say an officer shot a man Tuesday after the man discarded a gun in an alley of the Washington Park neighborhood and tried to go back for it.

The suspect “is going to be OK,” said Chicago police spokesperson Tom Ahern, who was on the scene of the shooting Tuesday afternoon in the 5600 block of South Michigan Avenue.

In a statement Thursday, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability said two officers in an unmarked vehicle attempted to stop a man exiting a liquor store when he ran into an alley and one officer chased him, according to the oversight agency. The man discarded a weapon in the alley and then went back for it, after which the officer shot him; a weapon was recovered at the scene.

Chicago police said officers were attempting to stop a man believed to be armed with a handgun about 11:50 a.m. when he ran and they chased him. An officer who gave “verbal commands” that were “disregarded” shot the man, police said.

Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Merritt confirmed the man who was shot was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where police said he was in good condition. Initially, the man’s condition was listed as critical. At least one officer, who was not injured, was taken to another hospital for precautionary measures, Merritt said.

The officers involved will be placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days, and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating.

Michigan Avenue at 56th Street was cordoned off by yellow and red crime scene tape as evidence technicians took pictures and several police officers and detectives stood and guarded the scene of the shooting, which happened in an alley in a residential neighborhood.

A Chicago police command van was parked nearby.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.