CHICAGO — Two men are charged with firing shots at an off-duty police officer Thursday night in West Town, police said.
Gustavo VillaGomez, 27, and Kevin Martinez, 20, were both charged with aggravated assault of a police officer with a weapon. VillaGomez, of the 3200 block of South Lawndale Avenue, also was cited for driving on a revoked license. Martinez, of Cicero, was out on bond for a previous firearm-related charge, police said.
At 10:55 p.m. Thursday, a dark-colored SUV pulled up next to an off-duty officer at a stop sign in the 2600 block of West Division Street, and began yelling gang slogans at the officer, who identified himself as an officer, police said.
As the officer began to drive away, the men fired shots in his direction as they chased him down the street, police said. The officer then drove to a nearby police station and was able to give a description of the men and their SUV, police said.
Officers responded and arrested the men, who were positively identified by the officer, police said.
One resident who lives nearby was returning home around 11:40 p.m. when he saw a gun on the ground.
"At first we thought it was a toy, so I gently kicked it and realized it was a lot heavier than a toy," the resident said, who wished not to be named.
"We called police, and they were there within a minute," the resident said. "They had three men already in squad cars, but police were still in the area looking for the weapon."
VillaGomez and Martinez are due in bond court Sunday.
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