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Posted: Sunday, 05 July 2009 7:30PM
Police fire shots at teen during brawl
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JOLIET (STNG) -- A teenager was shot during a Friday night brawl, prompting a police officer to fire shots at a suspect outside Union Station in southwest suburban Joliet.
Joliet police Chief Fred Hayes said the fight started about 11:30 p.m., shortly after a Metra train returned from Chicago.
"An officer was in uniform [working security] for a wedding reception at the station. He overheard a shot and walked through the tunnel to the parking lot south of Washington Street where about 30 people were involved in a large fight," Hayes said.
Two Chicago Police officers who had ridden the train packed with people attending the Taste of Chicago and fireworks display also went out to the parking lot.
"The officer called for backup and went to start breaking up the fight when he heard three more shots," Hayes said.
According to reports, a 16-year-old boy pointed an automatic handgun at the officer, who had his gun drawn.
"[The officer] yelled for the offender to drop his weapon, but he refused. The officer then fired two rounds, but missed," Hayes said.
The bullets did not strike anyone and the suspect began to run south. As the three police officers ran after him, he dropped his gun and tried to climb over a fence before he was caught.
The 16-year-old Joliet boy was arrested and booked into the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center on charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unauthorized possession of a firearm, resisting a police officer and violating curfew.
A short time later, friends brought a 15-year-old boy to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet with a gunshot wound to his leg.
"Meanwhile, officers searched the parking lot, while a citizen got into their car and heard a clink as they began to pull out," Hayes said.
After stopping, the driver found a revolver on the ground.
Hayes said the weapon had been fired recently and is probably the gun that injured the teenager.
"It appears that was the first shot the officer overheard," Hayes said.
The injured teen was part of a group that had just arrived on the train and began fighting with "a rival group" they met walking near the parking lot.
"Witnesses and the victim were unable to provide a description of the shooter," Hayes said.
The officer who shot at the teen who allegedly fired the three rounds from the automatic has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated, according to department policy.
"Preliminary indications show the use of deadly force was appropriate, according to department policy and state law," Hayes said.
Detectives are reviewing surveillance video from the parking lot to identify the other gunman.
Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (815) 724-3020 or anonymously call CrimeStoppers at (800) 323-6734.
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Copyright 2009 STNG Wire, The Chicago Sun-Times. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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