Chicago police said the incident occurred at about 2:26 a.m. in the 300 block of North Mayfield Avenue in the Austin neighborhood.
This is the second time a retired officer has fired shots at someone trying to break into cars along that same block.
The retired Chicago police officer, who served 30 years on the force, said his neighbor, Terrell Jackson, called to alert him when someone was breaking into his car.
"It's just sad that it's constantly going on and on," Jackson said.
Jackson said he was only returning the favor when he alerted the retired cop of the attempted theft in progress.
"I was coming outside to once again go to work and somebody was breaking into his car," Jackson said. "We called 911 and contacted him."
The retired officer said he also immediately called 911 and then went outside to confront the suspect and a fight broke out.
"Went over and said stop, and that's when he turned around," the retired officer said. "I couldn't see who it was, he had a hood on his head. And that's when he charged me."
The 73-year-old retired officer said the suspect lunged at him and his gun went off during the struggle.
"He tried to grab my weapon away from me and he ended up shot and on the ground," the retired officer said.
Investigators said the 53-year-old offender was hit in the right shoulder and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was listed in good condition.
The retired police officer was uninjured.
"So everybody learn a lesson," the officer said. "To respect people's property."
Last May, surveillance video from the first incident last May showed a neighbor being carjacked on his way to work. A retired officer ran out to help and fired a dozen shots at the carjacking suspect.
Residents said anything can happen and you have to be on guard.
"If it comes to trying to save your life or your neighbor's life, of course everybody's gonna try to save each other. It is a tight block and everybody looks out for each other. It's just an incident that shouldn't have happened, but it happened."
The suspect was arrested and Area Four detectives are still investigating the incident.
"We just need the community to step up a little bit more to look out for one another," Jackson said.
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