Off-duty Chicago cop likely saved ex-sergeant’s life after North Center shooting, alderperson says

An off-duty Chicago police officer quickly responded to a shooting earlier this week in North Center and likely saved the life of a retired police sergeant who was left critically wounded, the local alderperson told the Sun-Times.

Ald. Matt Martin (47th) said the former sergeant’s condition is “improving,” though he’s still being treated in the intensive care unit at Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

Martin said he now wants to honor the off-duty cop who came to the ex-sergeant’s aid. Neither man's name has been made public.

“I flagged that for the 19th (Town Hall) District,” Martin said, referring to the police district where the shooting occurred. “I know that this off-duty officer wasn’t the only one to respond, so they’re going to look into who exactly responded and how.

“But I would like to find some formal way to thank him publicly for his actions.”

The former sergeant was shot twice in the left arm and grazed in his neck about 9 a.m. Monday in the 2000 block of West Berteau Avenue, according to police.

Witnesses told police an "altercation" erupted between the victim and two attackers, one of whom opened fire, shooting him as the victim left his vehicle, according to a police report.

Martin said one of the suspects who was arguing with the victim was taken into custody. Police don’t believe the argument was related to an attempted robbery or carjacking, Martin said.

The shooting prompted a heavy police response in the area as officers searched for the suspects. Coonley Elementary School, 4046 N. Leavitt St., was placed on a “soft lockdown,” according to police radio traffic.

Officers were eventually seen taking a suspect into custody in the 4100 block of North Lincoln Avenue, close to where the shooting happened. “There is no publicly available information yet to share about the second suspect,” Martin said.

A police spokesperson said only that investigators “are speaking to a person of interest and charges are pending.”

“The investigation is ongoing,” the spokesperson said.

John Sencion was working the front desk at Autohaus, an auto repair shop at 4157 N. Lincoln Ave.

"I was 20 yards away," Sencion told the Sun-Times. "I heard pop, pop, pop, pop!"

"One of the other technicians saw the gentleman lying on the ground," Sencion said. "By that time 15 or 20 cop cars and SWAT came in."

Autohaus owner Gary Kinsley rushed over when he heard what happened.

“I really felt terrible that a police officer who served the city and now is retired and if we cannot protect those who protect us what are we doing?" Kinsley told the Sun-Times.

"I have multiple auto shops and have been serving the community for 45 years and I've never seen anything like this," said Kinsley, who gave police a copy of surveillance footage taken from his Lincoln Avenue shop.

The footage shows two people wearing white tops and dark bottoms briskly walking north through the alley toward Berteau, said Kinsley. At least one of them appears to be holding something in their hands. "Within four minutes, you hear four shots. Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! And then you see them running the opposite direction," Kinsley said.

Reflecting on the tense hours that followed the shooting, Martin credited officers for rushing to the scene and apprehending one of the suspected gunmen. "Hopefully the same will be true for the second suspect," he added.

"[I am] really grateful for their fantastic work. And continuing to pray for the victim, hoping that he continues to recover from what appears to be a very serious injury."