The inquiry includes an initial shooting during a confrontation and additional gunfire after the officer moved farther down the street.
CHICAGO, Ill. — Chicago’s civilian police oversight agency is investigating an off-duty officer’s use of a firearm after two men were injured early Sunday in Little Village and the officer later fired additional shots toward a group, authorities said.
The investigation centers on an encounter shortly before 1 a.m. near West 24th and South Rockwell streets. Chicago police said the officer was driving in the 2600 block of West 24th Street when he stopped his vehicle and spoke with people standing on a sidewalk. A man then approached the vehicle and struck the officer in the face, police said.
The officer fired his weapon and struck that man twice, according to police. A second man from the group suffered an arm injury. The first man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition and was in police custody. The second man went to the same hospital on his own and was listed in good condition.
Investigators are also examining what happened after that initial exchange. Police said the off-duty officer drove a short distance away, stopped, got out of his vehicle and fired additional shots in the direction of the group. Officials had not released a detailed account explaining what prompted the later gunfire or the circumstances the officer faced at that point.
The sequence makes the incident a matter for both the Chicago Police Department and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. COPA investigates police shootings and other allegations of serious misconduct involving department members. Its investigators responded to the scene Sunday as evidence was collected.
The Police Department’s Investigative Response Team is conducting its own investigation. The officer is expected to be assigned to administrative duties while the incident is reviewed under department procedures. That status is an administrative step and does not by itself determine whether the officer’s actions complied with department rules.
The officer was also taken to a hospital for injuries suffered during the confrontation, according to police. Authorities had not released his identity, age or length of service. The names and ages of the two injured men also had not been made public.
A large police presence remained around the Little Village scene during the early-morning investigation. Video showed evidence markers and shell casings on the ground as officers examined the area. Officials had not released a complete count of shots fired or a detailed reconstruction of the encounter.
Key questions remained unanswered Sunday, including why the officer initially stopped to speak with the group and what happened immediately before he fired after moving down the street. Authorities had not announced criminal charges or released findings about whether the officer’s use of force was justified.
The police and civilian investigations remained active Sunday, with additional findings expected only after investigators review the available evidence and accounts of the confrontation.
Author note: Last updated October 4, 2026.