Police Shoot 159th Street Dollar-Store Robber on Steps of a Harvey Church

Harvey police shot and killed an armed robbery suspect on the steps of a church Sunday afternoon after the gunman opened fire on a crowd of parishioners.

Police responding to the Family Dollar store, 15901 S. Halsted St., for a report of an armed robbery in progress saw a man running from the store with a gun in his hand, according to the police. Officers chased him by foot to Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, on Union Avenue a few blocks away.

The man hid in a bathroom, then ran into the church parking lot and fired his gun at a crowd of people, police spokesman Sean Howard told reporters. About 200 parishioners were at the church for a dinner after Sunday Mass.

A police officer shot and killed the gunman on the church steps.

Howard said a gun, cash and a can of mace were recovered at the scene.

Police believe the man may have been involved in a string of dollar-store robberies and asked officers from other departments to take a look at this suspect.

“He barely had $100 … he robbed it for less than a $100 … it’s not worth life,’’ Howard told the Chicago Tribune. “It’s tragic. Very tragic.’’