Retired firefighter killed exchanging gunfire with would- be carjackers: police
A retired Chicago firefighter was fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire with would- be carjackers Thursday afternoon in Morgan Park on the Far South Side, according to police.
About 2 p. m., 65- year- old Dwain Williams left the popcorn shop Lets Get Poppin’, 11758 S. Western Ave., and walked to his vehicle when a dark- colored sedan approached and four males got out, Chicago Police Chief of Operations Brian McDermott said in a news conference at the scene.
There was an exchange of gunfire, and the retired firefighter was struck in the abdomen, McDermott said. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office and other officials identified Williams. The medical examiner’s office said he lived in Longwood Manor.
Williams was a lieutenant who retired from the fire department about two years ago after joining in 1992, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
His final assignment was with the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, where he was going to return to work as a civilian employee as soon as next week because “he really loved working in that environment,” Langford said.
Speaking at the scene, Southwest Side Ald. Matt O’Shea said Williams was a decorated member of the fire department.
“I can tell you he was a hero,” O’Shea said. “He spent his entire career working hard as a first responder for our great city. What a tremendous loss.”
The suspects were seen fleeing west on 118th Street in the sedan, McDermott said. It wasn’t clear if any of them had been shot.
Community activist Andrew Holmes said the ex- firefighter’s wife and four children have been left “traumatized” by his seemingly random killing and weren’t prepared to comment.
“His wife, she just wants her husband,” Holmes said. “That was her soul mate for over 30 years.”
“They’re trying to make sense of it, which it doesn’t make any sense,” Holmes said. “Why would you just take his life? If you wanted the car — this is one thing his whole family said — he would’ve gave you that car, keys and all.”
After dedicating his life to saving lives, Holmes added somberly, “all of a sudden, people take his.”