Officer shot man trying to pick up discarded weapon in Washington Park, preliminary probe finds

A Chicago police officer shot a man Tuesday after he discarded a gun in an alley in the Washington Park neighborhood and tried to go back for it, according to a preliminary investigation by Chicago police oversight officials.

Anthony Nelson, 25, was charged with aggravated assault of a peace officer and possessing a firearm as a repeat felon, Chicago police said.

In a statement Thursday, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability said two officers in an unmarked vehicle tried to stop a man leaving a liquor store when he ran into an alley and one officer chased him in the 5600 block of South Michigan Avenue.

The man then allegedly discarded a weapon in the alley and then went back for it, after which the officer shot him, according to COPA. A weapon was recovered at the scene, according to COPA.

The COPA investigation continues.

Chicago police said Tuesday that officers tried 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.

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

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 COPA is investigating, police said Tuesday.

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

A Chicago police command van was parked nearby.