An off-duty Oak Lawn police sergeant working a second job as a security guard was reportedly shot three times on Monday by a man from Florida during a clash at a trucking company in suburban Chicago. The alleged shooter, identified as 35-year-old Khambrel Lee of Lauderhill, Florida, is now facing an attempted murder charge, Local 10 News reported.
According to the police, Lee, who is an employee at the trucking company, got into an altercation with other workers around noon. In an unexpected move, he pulled a semi-automatic handgun from his coat, loaded it, and proceeded to unequivocally shoot the sergeant. Oak Lawn authorities stated he fired five rounds, with two shots hitting the sergeant's bulletproof vest and another round piercing his leg, as reported by ABC7 Chicago.
The situation escalated when Lee's gun jammed, allowing the injured sergeant and another security officer, who also engaged the gunman, to take him into custody. The sergeant managed to halt his own bleeding by expertly applying a tourniquet to his leg and was subsequently transported to Christ Hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the second security officer who sustained minor injuries refused medical attention.
"The offender alluded to the fact that God and his gun jamming are the only reason's our sergeant wasn't shot in the head," said a statement from the Oak Lawn Police Department obtained by Local 10 News. The firearm used in the incident, a .45 caliber Springfield Armory XD45, which was legally purchased in Florida, will be sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine if it was involved in any other crimes. Additionally, Lee had two more magazines loaded with thirteen rounds each at the time of his arrest.
Authorities have highlighted Lee's extensive criminal background in Florida, including past arrests for domestic violence, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and various drug-related charges. The Oak Lawn police commended the quick action of the sergeant and his colleague, stating, "Together they confronted an armed, violent individual and ultimately prevented further violence to innocent people," as shared in a statement to ABC7 Chicago. Lee is scheduled to make his court appearance in Bridgeview on Wednesday.
