Chicago Cop Says He Thought Suburban Cop Was 'Carjacker,' So He Shot At Him

CHICAGO, IL — A veteran Chicago cop charged with firing a gun at an off-duty suburban police officer and another man near the 22nd District police station took the stand in his own defense Monday.

John Gorman, 54, was charged last year with aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated assault in connection with an off-duty traffic dispute that unfolded Nov. 23, 2014, in Chicago’s Mt. Greenwood neighborhood. Prosecutors alleged that Gorman was inebriated at the time of the shooting.

According to the charges, Gorman, a full-time Chicago police officer since 2001, was driving his personal car near 111th Street and Pulaski Road when two men in an “oversized” pickup truck noticed Gorman driving erratically.

RELATED: Drunken Chicago Officer Shot at Off-Duty Suburban Cop: Prosecutor

One of the men was an off-duty Merrionette Park police officer. They decided to follow Gorman after he nearly struck a flower vendor who had to duck out of Gorman’s path to avoid being run over, prosecutors said.

Both men continued to follow Gorman’s Buick down 111th Street to get his license plate number, watching the Chicago cop purportedly weaving in and out of traffic and driving recklessly.

While stopped at a traffic light, the Merrionette Park police officer left his truck and approached Gorman, showing his badge. Prosecutors said the suburban cop also noticed an open bottle of beer in Gorman’s hand as he ignored several requests to roll down his window.

Gorman drove off when the light turned green. The two men continued to follow Gorman’s car while reporting details of the near pedestrian accident to the 911 dispatcher, prosecutors alleged.

Prosecutors said Gorman pulled over near 111th Street and Prospect Avenue, two blocks away from the 22nd District Morgan Park police station. Gorman got out of the Buick, along with another off-duty Chicago police officer who was riding in Gorman’s car as a passenger.

The Merrionette Park cop, Dominic Dimaggio, and his friend, Charles Ostrowski, had also pulled over and were sitting in Ostrowki’s truck behind Gorman’s car. The criminal complaint alleges Gorman faced the men’s vehicle with weapon in hand and fired five shots at the men’s truck. They ducked down and drove away from Gorman to avoid being shot.

The men went to the Morgan Park 22nd District police station to file a report. Gorman was brought in for questioning and initially charged with misdemeanor DUI, since five hours had passed after the reported shooting, prosecutors said at the time of his arrest.

Gorman also surrendered his weapon, which had one round left.

On Monday, during a bench trial, Gorman’s attorney, Michael Clancey, said his client acted in fear for his life after being pursued for miles by “some psycho” in a “Tonka truck,” the Chicago Tribune reported,

Gorman testified in court how he got out of his Buick with his gun and badge in hand when the men in the Ford F250 sped towards him. The Chicago police officer contends he fired “warning shots," thinking the suburban cop and his pal were carjackers or someone he may have arrested in the past.

Gorman’s police partner, Timothy Neylon, also testified that the two had been drinking beer. The two were stripped of their police powers and placed on desk duty shortly after the incident.

During closing arguments, prosecutors called Gorman’s version of events “a load of crap,” maintaining that the drunken cop had opted for “street justice,” according to the Tribune account.

The suburban police officer and his friend were merely trying to get an impaired driver off the road, prosecutors argued.

“[Gorman] shouldn't be carrying a gun," said Assistant State's Attorney Ahmed Kosoko. "He certainly shouldn't have a badge."

Cook County Judge James Linn said he would rule Wednesday whether Gorman was guilty of the charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated assault, the Tribune reported.

Photo: John Gorman, 54 | Cook County Sheriff