Local News

On-Duty Chicago Firefighter Shot

Arson Investigator Struck In Chest On Southeast Side

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Chicago firefighter Donald Cox is recovering in the hospital after being shot Saturday night while responding to a call on the city's Southeast Side.

Firefighters said they were responding to a fire at a home in the 2900 block of East 80th Place; someone had tossed some type of accelerant at the house.

After the fire was out, Cox, 43, was alone outside when someone opened fire. Minutes later, he lay bleeding in the alley. He's an 18-year veteran and has worked in fire investigation for about three or four years.

Resident Richard Thomas heard the gunfire. "Rapid fire. And then it was quiet," Thomas said.

Neighbors said a second burst of gunfire ended up hitting Cox.

Fire Commissioner Raymond Orozco said, "One of our investigators was working at about 4:36 this morning. There were shots fired in the neighborhood and this individual was struck once in the left side below the rib cage with a bullet."

Orozco said the firefighter called officials on his radio to give his signature and location after he had been shot.

Neighbors said it's an area where someone pulls a trigger everyday. They were sad to see the violence turn against those who serve the community.

"We depend on them for our lives. You know, we have to call the police when there's crimes. If there's a fire we have to call the fire department and they're not safe," Thomas said.

Asked when a firefighter had last been shot on the job, Orozco said, "It's been a long time. I've got to go back in memory a long time; going back I'm thinking about when a fire fighter was shot in the line of duty. It's been a while so … it's just wrong place, wrong time".

He says as far as he can recall, this is the first time a firefighter has been shot on the job in 40 years.

Police confirmed a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the house about an hour before the shooting. They are not sure if the fire investigator was targeted. At a fire department event Sunday, the wife of a long-time firefighter says she knows the job has risks.

"There's dangers all the time," said Marge Madden. "And sometimes you try not to dwell on them, but anything can happen and you worry."

But Commissioner Orozco says the firefighter is expected to recover.

"I talked to him after his surgery, he was conscious and he's with his wife children and family right now and that's our greatest concern -- his speedy recovery."

Thomas coaches local youths. He said he pushes for kids to resolve their differences without weapons.

"I wish it was like the games, you know. At the end of the game somebody wins, somebody loses, they shake hands and everybody goes their own way," he said.

Neighbors said there's so much gunfire in this area between rival gangs that they can't even sleep at night.

"We've had gunfire now almost every night, every night, two, three times a night," Thomas said.

Up until Sunday, arson investigators went out alone. Now, because of this shooting, Orozco says two investigators will be assigned to every car – effective immediately.

CBS 2's Pamela Jones contributed to this report.

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