By Nancy Ryan, The Chicago Tribune
An off-duty Chicago police officer was in good condition early today after a car following him on the South Side pulled up to his vehicle and its occupants opened fire.
Tony Howard, 36, an officer with the public housing unit, suffered a gunshot wound to the head, but the bullet did not penetrate his skull, said police spokeswoman Amina Greer.
The eight-year veteran officer was driving his car eastbound on East 55th Street near South Calumet Avenue at about 11 p.m. when he noticed a champagne-colored vehicle following him. Howard tried to elude the car, described as an Oldsmobile Alero or Dodge Intrigue, by changing streets, Greer said.
But in the 5700 block of Calumet, the other car, carrying two to three men, pulled up and one or more occupants fired numerous shots at Howard’s car, Greer said. The offenders fled, and an injured Howard drove himself eight to nine blocks to the Wentworth District police station at 5101 S. Wentworth Ave.
The officer was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was listed in good condition, she said.