JEFFERSON PARK — An off-duty Chicago Police officer fatally shot a man who was robbing a Jefferson Park Walgreens Monday morning, police said.
The 56-year-old man was pronounced dead at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital at 1:06 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office. He was identified Tuesday as Mark Garcia of the 5800 block of North Milwaukee Avenue.
According to a statement from police, Garcia walked into the Walgreens in the 5200 block of North Milwaukee Avenue and tried to rob it about 10:30 a.m. Monday.
An off-duty police officer who was in the drugstore at the same time saw the incident and confronted him, police said.
The 11-year Chicago Police Department veteran was using the store's ATM when he saw a young woman at the cash register frantically shoving money into a bag, Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Pat Camden said.
He drew his weapon and walked toward the counter identifying himself as an officer and ordered Garcia to get on his knees, Camden said, adding that the officer spotted a weapon in the robber's pocket.
As the officer tried to take Garcia into custody, he said "You're going to have to shoot me," before reaching into his pocket for his handgun, Camden said.
The officer and Garcia started to struggle, and the officer shot him, police said.
Camden said the officer shot him in the shoulder.
The Independent Police Review Authority was investigating the incident Monday, a spokesman said.
Officers were investigating the possibility Garcia may have been involved in several other robberies in the area. No officers were injured, and no one else was hurt inside the store, Camden said.
