CHICAGO — An off-duty university cop shot a teen who tried to rob him in Calumet Heights Monday night after the teen and a friend lured him to the scene with a "social media ruse" and a promise of an iPhone for sale, police said.
Kurtis Flowers, 17, of Calumet Heights and a 15-year-old boy — who was not identified because he is a juvenile — were charged with armed robbery after allegedly targeting the 37-year-old cop and a 16-year-old boy, according to the police report.
Police said the off-duty campus policeman was tricked into thinking he was about to purchase an iPhone when he and the 16-year-old drove to the 2200 block of East 87th Street just before 5 p.m.
The relationship between the campus officer and the teen victim was not immediately clear.
As the off-duty officer and the 16-year-old sat parked in their car, the younger suspect reportedly walked up to them, pulled a gun and announced a robbery while Flowers watched.
After the 15-year-old suspect grabbed a cellphone and cash from the victims, the officer reportedly announced he was a cop and fired at the boy. The suspects fled, and the victims called police, police said.
Police found Flowers trying to hide in a front porch in the 8700 block of South Crandon Avenue, a police report said. The 15-year-old was taken into custody and treated for a gunshot wound, then released, the report said.
According to polce, the victims identified both suspects, and the cash and cellphone were reclaimed.
Flowers was held on $275,000 bond Tuesday afternoon. The 15-year-old boy was sent to Juvenile Court, according to police reports.
The Chicago Tribune said the campus officer worked for Chicago State University, but the school referred questions to Chicago police.
Chicago police referred questions about the officer to the university.
