2 gang members charged in shooting involving off-duty officer outside Funky Buddha Lounge

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Fernando Lopez and Mario Orta, two known gang members, each face multiple felonies in a shooting involving an off-duty Cook County Sheriff's Deputy outside the Funky Buddha Lounge.

Police said Lopez was shot multiple times by the deputy in the 700-block of West Grand Avenue in Chicago's River West neighborhood around 3 a.m. on Nov. 30. He remains at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was taken in critical condition after the shooting.

Lopez was driving westbound on Grand Avenue when his vehicle struck several parked vehicles near the lounge, according to a police source. When patrons who were standing outside the club started approaching Lopez, he jumped out of his vehicle and fired shots.

The officer approached and ordered him to drop the weapon. Lopez allegedly pointed the gun at the officer, who then fired his weapon and struck the 27-year-old man multiple times, causing him to drop the gun.

Police said Orta grabbed the gun, fired at least one shot at the officer and fled in the vehicle Lopez was driving earlier. The off-duty deputy was not injured.

Lopez, of the 2500 block of West 51st Street, was charged with aggravated assault to a peace officer with a weapon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon without a FOID card, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon with a loaded handgun without a concealed carry permit, aggravated discharge of a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member, all felonies.

Orta, of the 2600 block of West 12th Place, was charged with attempted murder in the first-degree, aggravated discharged of a firearm to a peace office, aggravated discharge of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member, all felonies.

Lopez and Orta were both due in bond court on Tuesday.

A shooting was reported in the same block at 3:20 a.m. on Nov. 9, according to the City of Chicago Data Portal.

The Cook County Sheriff's office confirmed a correctional officer was involved in the shooting, according to spokeswoman Sophia Ansari.

"While this incident is under investigation by the Chicago Police Department, it appears that our officer's brave actions saved the lives of innocent people," Ansari said.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.