Off-duty officer shot in Park Manor robbery attempt; suspects sought

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Police are conducting a door-to-door search for the suspects involved in a robbery attempt in Chicago's Park Manor neighborhood that left an off-duty officer seriously injured, officials said.

Officer Jerome Starks was not wearing a bullet proof vest at the time of the shooting and was shot once in the chest.

The officer is in stable condition at Mt. Sinai Hospital. Police and his family say he is alert and talking - and that is comforting to his daughter, who flew from out-of-state to be here.

"I just came from Kansas, I just touched down so this is my first time seeing him," said Jenae Starks, the victim's daughter. "Everybody is saying that he's good, he's talking, I talked to him for a few minutes."

Chicago Police say the 41-year-old officer left a lounge near 75th and Langley just before 1 a.m. Friday.

Police say he got into a white BMW, which was parked less than a block away in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, when three robbers approached him.

"We don't think he was targeted, just happened to be sitting in his vehicle at the time the subjects approached," said First Deputy Superintendent Alfonza Wysinger.

Police say the officer, who is assigned to the Third District, sensed something was wrong and tried to drive off.

"As he attempted to drive away, one of the subjects fired shots into the officer's vehicle, striking him in the chest," Wysinger said.

Wounded, the eight-year veteran drove about three blocks before police say he flagged down a squad car for help.

Police say he was stabilized at the University of Chicago Medical Center before being transported to Mt. Sinai, where his loved ones - especially his daughter - have been all day long.

"He calls me at 1:30 in the morning, so of course I'm like, 'What happened?!'" said Latonya Darden, a friend. "I just thought it was all downhill but luckily, it was all uphill, everything is good."

Chicago Police say Officer Starks has received numerous departmental awards during his service.

As far as the investigation, police have canvassed the neighborhood where the shooting happened, but no one has been arrested yet.