Man Critically Injured In Shootout With University Of Chicago Cop

CHICAGO – A man was critically injured on Tuesday when he became involved in a shootout with University of Chicago police after an officer stopped the man who was reportedly waving a gun while walking in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood.

Police have not identified the man, who was said to be in his 20s. The incident took place at 11:43 a.m. on Tuesday on the corner of 53rd Street and Woodlawn Avenue, Eric Health, the associate vice president for safety and security at the university said in a statement.

The man started firing shots at the university police officer after he stopped to investigate the report, the spokesman said. The officer then fired back and hit the man, who was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center for treatment.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the man was picked up by Chicago Fire Department paramedics near Hyde Park Boulevard and Woodlawn Avenue. A department spokesman told the newspaper had suffered several gunshot wounds in the incident and was in critical condition when he was taken to the university medical center.

The university said no one else was involved in the shootout and that it will provide more information about the incident as it becomes available.

The officer has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted. The Chicago Police Department and university are both investigating the shooting, according to the spokesman.