A Chicago homeowner shot and killed a man Wednesday after witnessing an attempted theft from a vehicle.
According to Chicago police, a 25-year-old man was fatally shot when a Lathrop Homes resident with a license to carry a concealed weapon allegedly saw two men trying to steal parts from a nearby parked car.
Authorities said a 44-year-old man had been sitting on the steps of his North Side home around 11:15 p.m. “when he heard a loud noise coming from the street.” He walked toward the curb and saw two men he didn’t know under a vehicle, appearing to be working near the engine.
“The two males noticed the (44-year-old) watching and crawled out from underneath the vehicle. Without warning, both (men) drew their weapons and began shooting at (him),” police said in an online media notification.
The man walked towards the noise and discovered two men under a parked vehicle, one of which would be identified later as Darion Blackman, a 25-year-old man who was no stranger to the police.
According to WGN-TV, the two men were attempting to steal a catalytic converter from the parked car. After they realized they had been discovered, both men crawled out from beneath the car and began shooting at the homeowner.
Unknowingly to the unsuspecting crooks, their target was a concealed carry license holder ready to match their energy. So, with his gun, the intended victim fired back at Blackman and his criminal companion.
According to reports, a dozen shots were fired, with one of them hitting a nearby home’s window.
Unfortunately for the crooks, the homeowner seemed to have quite the aim. One of the bullets he fired struck Blackman in the neck while his partner was able to flee the scene.
Blackman was later confirmed dead at the Illinois Masonic Medical Center and identified by the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Authorities soon revealed that this was not Blackman’s first crime. He had been arrested about two months before his death for the unlawful use of a weapon without possession of a valid Firearm Owners Identification card and was released the next day.
Fortunately, according to the police, the homeowner did not sustain any injuries during the shootout. He refused help from paramedics.
Watch the video report below for more details:
Sources: OpposingViews, Chicago Sun Times, WGN9
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