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Officer Shot in Chest is Saved By Protective Vest

2 Chicago Cops Involved in Struggle, Shootout During Traffic Stop

By Tom Rybarczyk and Nancy Ryan, Chicago Tribune

Two police officers and a 53-year-old suspect were shot in an exchange of gunfire during a traffic stop early today on the West Side.

The officers were each struck in the forearm and taken in good condition to area hospitals, where they were treated and released, said police spokesman Pat Camden.

In addition to suffering a bullet wound to the left forearm, the one officer was struck in the left side of the chest but the bullet did not penetrate his protective vest, Camden said.

The male suspect, who was shot multiple times, underwent surgery and was reported in critical condition at Mt. Sinai Hospital, said police spokesman Pat Camden.

The shootout occurred around 12:45 a.m. at 19th Street and Lawndale Avenue after two uniformed officers with the Ogden District drove to the intersection after hearing gunfire in the area, Camden said.

When they arrived in their squad car, they saw a man inside a van with its headlights turned off. Also there was a squad car with two uniformed officers from the police department's Targeted Response Unit, which works in the city's high-crime neighborhoods.

All four officers exited their squad cars, and one officer from the Ogden District and another with the response unit approached the van and ordered the man to get out. The suspect told them he was a police officer and showed them an identity from a railroad company, Camden said.

When one of the officers tried to pat down the man, the suspect began struggling and allegedly pulled out a semi-automatic handgun.

"He immediately starts fighting with the officers. The fight takes him to the ground, (the) offender pulls a semi-automatic pistol at that point, starts firing at the officers. The officers return fire," Camden said.

Multiple gunshots were fired at close range, injuring the two officers, both men in their 30s, and the suspect, Camden said.

Camden said police were investigating whether the suspect is a security officer with a railroad company.

"We're following up on that," Camden said. But, "we don't think he is."

 

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Former Chicago Cop With Unregistered Glock in Shoot-out With Police
By Annie Sweeney, Chicago Sun-Times
A man who was critically wounded in a shoot-out with police is a former Chicago cop who was carrying an unregistered Glock 9mm handgun, police say.

Howard Morgan, 53, who now works as a detective for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad, was charged Tuesday with four counts of attempted murder in connection with the 12:45 a.m. Monday traffic stop where he allegedly unloaded 17 rounds at uniformed officers.



Morgan, of the 1900 block of South Ridgeway, initially cooperated with police when he was stopped at 19th and Lawndale for going the wrong way down a one-way street, police said.

But when he became uncooperative and police were trying to handcuff him, he allegedly reached for the gun and opened fire, wounding one officer. By then, two other officers had responded as backup, and all three opened fire, police spokesman Pat Camden said.

Morgan was in critical condition at Mount Sinai Hospital with 24 wounds, each either entering or exiting. It was not known how many shots police fired or how many shots hit Morgan.

Camden said police are tracing the gun. For his railroad job, Morgan was allowed to carry a gun during his shift between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m., and for the two hours before and after work, Camden said.